Core Insights - A critical flaw in the flight control systems of Airbus A320 family aircraft has been identified, necessitating urgent software upgrades or hardware replacements for approximately 6,000 aircraft globally, which represents over half of Airbus's fleet [2][8] - The U.S. Aviation Authority is expected to issue an emergency airworthiness directive in alignment with the European Union Aviation Safety Agency (EASA), mandating immediate action to address the vulnerability caused by intense solar radiation affecting the Elevator Aileron Computer (ELAC) [2][8] - The situation has escalated following an incident on October 30 involving JetBlue Flight 1230, which experienced a sudden loss of altitude, prompting Airbus to inform operators of the risk and available solutions [4][8] Aircraft Impact - Approximately 6,000 A320 family aircraft, including A319s, A320s, A321s, and their neo variants, are affected, with about 1,600 of these in service in the U.S. [5][8] - Most affected aircraft can revert to a previous software version, but around 1,000 older aircraft will require more time-consuming hardware changes to accept the updated software [5][8] Operational Disruptions - Airlines are facing significant operational disruptions, leading to widespread flight cancellations and delays during the busy U.S. Thanksgiving travel period [6][8] - American Airlines has confirmed that 340 of its A320 aircraft require the software update and anticipates some delays, while other carriers like easyJet and Wizz Air have also warned passengers of potential disruptions [6][8]