DGCA Grounds Airbus A320 Family After Global Warning From Airbus

India’s aviation regulator, the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA), has instructed airlines to temporarily ground Airbus A320 family aircraft until mandatory technical corrections are completed. The order, issued on Saturday, follows a European safety directive prompted by a recent incident involving an A320 aircraft in the United States. Indian carriers, which operate one of the world’s largest A320 fleets, have begun adjusting schedules to carry out the required software and hardware upgrades.

DGCA Issues Mandatory Safety Directive

The DGCA issued a formal notification stating that Airbus A318, A319, A320 and A321 aircraft cannot operate until they comply with the latest airworthiness requirements. The directive instructs operators to update their Mandatory Modification List and ensure that no aircraft flies unless the specified changes or inspections have been completed. The regulator emphasised that compliance with these modifications is necessary before any flight operations resume.

What Triggered the Airbus Alert

The global directive from Airbus stems from an incident on 30 October 2025, when a JetBlue A320 travelling from Cancun to Newark suddenly pitched downward without pilot input. The National Transportation Safety Board later linked the event to an “ELAC switch change”, referring to the electronic flight control computer that manages elevator and aileron operations. The aircraft diverted to Tampa, and some passengers required hospital care.

Subsequent analysis by Airbus revealed that intense solar radiation could corrupt flight-control-related data on certain A320 family aircraft. Working with global regulators, Airbus moved quickly to introduce precautionary checks. The European Union Aviation Safety Agency then issued an emergency airworthiness directive, warning that the malfunction could cause uncommanded elevator movement, posing a significant safety risk.

Airbus said it has been working proactively with authorities, noting that the precautionary measures were introduced to ensure the fleet remains safe to fly.

What Airlines Are Required to Do

Airlines must install a software update on all affected aircraft. For newer A320 variants, the update can be loaded in roughly half an hour. Older jets require additional hardware changes, increasing the time each aircraft must remain on the ground.

Airbus acknowledged that the update would disrupt airline schedules and apologised for the inconvenience to passengers. The manufacturer described the measures as essential to addressing a critical technical concern.

Impact on Indian Carriers

India’s aviation network is expected to experience temporary delays over the weekend as airlines work through large fleets. IndiGo operates around 350 A320 family aircraft, most of which are equipped for the faster software-based process. The airline expects about 250 jets to undergo updates by early next week. Air India, with 120 to 125 aircraft in this category, estimates that more than 100 will receive the mandated fix.

Both airlines have issued advisories, cautioning passengers about possible delays. Air India said the directive would result in “longer turnaround time and delays to our scheduled operations”, while IndiGo stated it was completing the updates “with full diligence and care, in line with all safety protocols”.

With updates expected to finish by Monday or Tuesday, operators anticipate a return to normal schedules soon.