Vietnam’s airlines hold overnight emergency meeting as 6,000 Airbus jets recalled for software updates

Europe-based Airbus said on Friday it was ordering immediate repairs to 6,000 of its widely used A320 family of jets in a sweeping recall affecting more than half the global fleet.

The company discovered a potential data corruption issue on many of its A320 jets.

“Intense solar radiation may corrupt data critical to the functioning of flight controls,” according to the planemaker.

Although the company affirmed that aircraft remain safe to operate, it urged airlines to implement the update immediately to maintain the highest safety standards.

The European Union Aviation Safety Agency (EASA) is fast-tracking an emergency airworthiness directive.

Accordingly, all affected aircraft must complete the updates before being cleared for takeoff from Saturday.

Given the scale of the fix, carriers are preparing for schedule changes, aircraft swaps, and temporary groundings.

Each aircraft requires one to three hours for the update, but in Vietnam, the technical capacity is limited to just five or six specialized update stations.

Vietnam's airlines face significant impact

Vietnam is among the most heavily affected markets because A320-family jets form the backbone of domestic operations.

Initial tallies show 63 Vietnam Airlines aircraft and 69 Vietjet planes require immediate updates.

The aviation authority said that contingency plans are being prepared in close coordination with the airlines as weekend travel demand surges.

Local airlines have mobilized technical teams to work around the clock, though executives acknowledged that flight delays, aircraft changes, and schedule adjustments may be unavoidable due to the scale of the operation.

Airbus characterized the update campaign as a proactive safety measure aimed at ensuring the world’s most widely used narrow-body jet remains fully protected during a period of heightened solar activity.

Passengers are advised to anticipate potential disruptions, including delays and cancelations, over the coming days as airlines worldwide push to complete an extraordinary, once-in-a-generation safety upgrade.