American Airlines is temporarily grounding a portion of its Airbus fleet due to a software issue that necessitates urgent updates. The Fort Worth-based airline has initiated updates on approximately 340 affected aircraft in response to directives from aviation regulators in both the United States and Europe. This action follows an incident involving a JetBlue flight in October 2024, where at least 15 passengers were injured after an Airbus A320 lost altitude unexpectedly.
The airline has stated that it anticipates completing the majority of the necessary updates within the next two days. The update process is expected to take around two hours for many aircraft. While American Airlines acknowledges potential delays during this period, it emphasizes that its primary focus is on minimizing cancellations, particularly as customers return from holiday travel.
“Though we expect some delays as we accomplish these updates, our overriding priority will always be the safety of our operation,” the airline said in a statement. “It’s all hands on deck across our airline to address this Airbus software issue and take care of any customers whose flights are affected.”
Airbus has also recognized the issue, noting that a significant number of A320 Family aircraft currently in service may be impacted. The European Union Aviation Safety Agency (EASA) has been notified, and Airbus has expressed regret for the operational disruptions that may affect passengers and airline customers.
In an official comment, Airbus stated, “We apologize for the inconvenience caused and will work closely with operators while keeping safety as our number one and overriding priority.”
As of now, it remains unclear whether American Airlines’ major competitors, such as United Airlines and Delta Air Lines, which also operate Airbus aircraft, are facing similar issues related to this software problem.
This grounding of the Airbus fleet highlights the aviation industry’s ongoing challenges regarding safety and operational integrity. As American Airlines works to resolve these software updates, it remains committed to maintaining service quality for its passengers.
Overall, the airline’s proactive response to the software issue underscores its dedication to safety and reliability in an industry where such factors are paramount.