EASA Issues Emergency Airworthiness Directive for Airbus A320 Family Aircraft

Precautionary Directive Issued for Airbus A320 Fleet

The European Union Aviation Safety Agency (EASA) issued an Emergency Airworthiness Directive (EAD) on November 28, 2025, impacting the global fleet of Airbus A320 family aircraft. This precautionary measure, effective 23:59 UTC on November 29, 2025, mandates immediate software and, in some cases, hardware modifications to address a newly identified flight control vulnerability.

Root Cause: Solar Radiation and Flight Control Anomaly

The directive follows an incident on October 30, 2025, involving a JetBlue A320 aircraft that experienced an 'uncommanded and limited pitch down event' during a flight, leading to injuries among passengers. Investigations by Airbus revealed that 'intense solar radiation may corrupt data critical to the functioning of flight controls,' specifically affecting the Elevator Aileron Computer (ELAC). The affected component is identified as ELAC B L104. EASA stated that 'this condition, if not corrected, could lead in the worst-case scenario to an uncommanded elevator movement that may result in exceeding the aircraft's structural capability.'

Mandatory Actions and Global Impact

Airlines operating the affected aircraft, which include A319s, A320s, A321s, A320neos, and A321neos, are required to install a serviceable ELAC (specifically ELAC B L103+) or implement a software fix. For approximately 6,000 aircraft globally, this involves reverting to a previous software version, while a smaller subset of older aircraft may require a more time-consuming hardware change. Compliance is mandatory before the aircraft's next flight after the EAD's effective date, though ferry flights are permitted to reposition aircraft for maintenance.

Limited Disruption for UK Airlines

The directive has implications for 'some' A320 family aircraft registered in the United Kingdom and operated by 'some UK airlines.' The UK Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) confirmed the issue, advising passengers to check with their airlines for potential disruptions. However, due to swift action by airlines, the impact on UK flights was expected to be 'limited' or 'minimal.' For instance, British Airways reported only three of its short-haul aircraft were affected, and EasyJet had already completed the software update on many of its aircraft. While Gatwick Airport anticipated a small number of delays, Heathrow and Luton airports did not expect significant operational impact.

Industry Response and Passenger Advice

Airbus acknowledged that the required actions would 'lead to operational disruptions to passengers and customers' and issued an apology for the inconvenience. Giancarlo Buono, Director of Aviation Safety at the UK CAA, stated, 'We appreciate the disruption this may cause to some people flying over the coming days.' Transport Secretary Heidi Alexander also noted the 'limited' impact on UK airlines. Airlines have been working 'at pace' to address the directive, prioritizing passenger safety. Passengers are advised to check their flight status directly with their airline before traveling.