The Aryavarth Express
New Delhi: Aviation expert Harsh Wardhan has described the recently detected Airbus software glitch as a “very serious” safety concern, warning that it could have led to a major disaster had it gone unnoticed. Speaking on the issue, he expressed relief that the problem was identified in time.
Wardhan explained that the malfunction, linked to the upgraded software used in Airbus A320 aircraft, affected the elevator and trim control system—an essential mechanism responsible for maintaining the aircraft’s altitude and stability.
“It’s a very serious glitch, and I’m glad it was detected in time because it could have resulted in a catastrophe,” Wardhan said. “This system controls the aircraft’s levelling. If it becomes unstable, the aircraft could unexpectedly nosedive, and pilots may temporarily lose control. Though the incidents reported so far corrected themselves, the consequences could have been far worse.”
He noted that after multiple occurrences, a prompt inspection became necessary. Investigations revealed that the issue affected the entire fleet rather than individual aircraft, leading regulators to order grounding and corrective action. According to him, Airbus is now reverting to the software’s earlier version, and while the fix is expected to resolve the problem, close monitoring will be required to ensure it does not recur.
Earlier today, the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) issued an airworthiness directive prohibiting the operation of several Airbus aircraft models until they comply with mandatory modifications. The order, issued by Assistant Director (Airworthiness) Nishikant Sharma, mandates that only aircraft meeting the updated safety requirements can operate.
The directive covers a wide range of Airbus A319, A320, and A321 models. The move follows Airbus’s global call for immediate repairs across its A320 family, affecting approximately 6,000 aircraft worldwide. The action was prompted by an incident involving an A320 in which a software-related vulnerability—potentially linked to solar radiation—was found to corrupt data critical to flight control systems.
The resulting inspections and repairs have caused disruptions for multiple Indian airlines as compliance measures get underway.
