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What happened
The DGCA has issued an urgent order for modifications on Airbus A320 family aircraft following a safety alert from Airbus. This alert was prompted by an incident where solar radiation was found to potentially corrupt critical flight control data. As a result, the DGCA has prohibited the operation of certain Airbus A319, A320, and A321 aircraft until necessary modifications are completed. IndiGo and Air India, the major operators of these aircraft in India, are rapidly implementing the required changes. IndiGo has modified 60% of its fleet, while Air India has completed 40%. The modifications involve software updates that take about two hours and may require grounding some older aircraft for hardware replacements. The situation is expected to cause flight delays and cancellations, impacting thousands of passengers.
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Key insights
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1
Safety Alert Issued
Airbus identified risks from solar radiation affecting flight controls.
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2
Operational Disruptions Expected
Airlines anticipate delays and cancellations due to urgent modifications.
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3
Rapid Airline Response
IndiGo and Air India are quickly implementing necessary changes.
Takeaways
The DGCA's urgent modifications for Airbus A320 aircraft highlight the importance of safety in aviation. Airlines are taking swift action to comply, but disruptions are likely as they work to ensure passenger safety.