Thousands of Airbus planes, around 6,000 A320 family aircraft, have been grounded globally due to concerns that intense solar radiation could interfere with their flight control computers, potentially causing sudden altitude loss. This discovery followed an investigation into an incident in October where a JetBlue Airways flight lost altitude, injuring 15 people.

• Approximately 5,100 Airbus planes require a three-hour software update, while 900 older models need physical computer replacements.
• The European Union Aviation Safety Agency (EASA) issued an emergency airworthiness directive.
• The disruption coincides with the busy Thanksgiving travel period in the US, with airlines like American Airlines and Jetstar experiencing significant impacts.