Sky at Night magazine reported on February 7 that the global aviation industry experienced a rare shock last year when a solar storm with extreme radiation levels was identified as the cause of disruption to essential flight control systems.
Faced with safety risks, Airbus ordered an emergency software update for the A320 aircraft line, while aviation regulators issued emergency instructions, causing many airlines to temporarily suspend operations to fix the situation.
According to Airbus estimates, about 6,000 A320 aircraft worldwide are affected to varying degrees. Most only need to update software in about 2 hours, but a few cases require deeper hardware intervention, extending repair time.
This emergency decision stemmed from the investigation conclusion of a serious incident that occurred in October 2025. At that time, JetBlue flight 1230 from Cancún (Mexico) to Newark (USA) had to make an emergency landing in Florida after the plane encountered a control malfunction, leading to a sudden drop in altitude. The incident left some passengers slightly injured, not life-threatening.
During the investigation, experts discovered loopholes in high-intensity solar radiation, especially solar flares, which can distort signals or cause temporary errors in sensitive electronic systems on airplanes.
This result forces Airbus to re-evaluate the "space weather" resistance of the world's most widely operated fleet.
Recent studies by the US National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) show that the Sun's activity is stronger than forecast, within the framework of the 25th solar cycle, even potentially entering a period of high activity lasting decades.
This means that solar storms tend to appear denser and more intensely, increasing the risk to electronic systems on Earth, from satellites, power grids to civilian aircraft. In that context, "space weather" is being seen as a new variable in the flight plan.
Currently, many aviation agencies have integrated solar storm warnings into their operating procedures. The US National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA)'s Space Weather Forecasting Center provides real-time warnings, helping airlines and airports proactively change routes, increase shelter safety bands, or adjust operating schedules when solar radiation increases.
The incident related to the A320 series is considered a wake-up call for the entire aviation industry: Flight safety in the digital age not only depends on human skills and ground technology, but is also increasingly clearly affected by changes in space.
In the future, adaptability to solar storms may become a new safety standard, alongside traditional technical requirements of the civil aviation industry.
