Global Airbus grounding creates havoc at Melbourne Airport
Chaotic scenes have unfolded at Melbourne Airport after flights were cancelled due to an urgent Airbus software update that is affecting one of the world’s most popular aircraft.
Melbourne Airport has been thrown into chaos after flights were grounded due to potential safety issues affecting Airbus aircraft flown by Australian carriers.
Airbus warned that software needed to be updated to ensure safe flying of more than 6000 A320s flying world wide – about half of those in service across the globe.
“Analysis of a recent event involving an A320 Family aircraft has revealed that intense solar radiation may corrupt data critical to the functioning of flight controls,” the aircraft manufacturer said in a statement.
Airbus on Friday instructed airlines to take “immediate precautionary action”, requiring them to upgrade faulty software.
The grounding of these planes has had a major impact on Melbourne airport.
Jetstar confirmed 34 out of its 85 Airbus A320/1 aircraft currently in service were affected, with the budget airline cancelling three flights out of Melbourne on Saturday morning.
Ninety flights have been cancelled across the Jetstar network, with other flights delayed as a result.
Passenger Ben Shaw said he had never seen the airport as busy.
“When we arrived this morning we had no idea there were any problems, we heard some announcement about a global outage which was concerning,” he told the Herald Sun.
“There were lots of people queuing up at information desks, in the baggage area, it’s pretty packed.
“You catch conversations of people who have had two flights delayed or had been there since 5am.
“We’re going to get away with only a short delay but we have a little kid with us, it’s his first time in the airport so we had enough to think about without more uncertainty.”
Jetstar chief pilot Tyrone Simes said they expected to see “further disruptions today and minor disruptions tomorrow”.
“We’ve got about 90 flights affected. And of course that’s just Jetstar. But it’s important to note that it is a worldwide issue,” he said.
“The engineering team are able to change the software status of that computer on board the aeroplane, so they need to physically get on board and do that process.
“Anything to do with the flight control system is a serious matter, and we take it very seriously.”
It is understood the upgrade process takes two to three hours.
A Jetstar spokesman thanked customers for their understanding and patience following the disruption.
“Our teams are working on options to get customers on their way as quickly as possible and are contacting affected customers directly,” the airline said.
“We will continue to provide updates.”
Twenty affected planes were ready to return to service by 3.30pm, Jestar confirmed.
“We’re expecting the remaining to be ready overnight, allowing flights to resume as planned on Sunday 30 November,” a Jetstar spokesman said.
“However, there may be some flow-on delays or cancellations on Sunday as the network fully recovers.”
Services to and from Melbourne from other domestic carriers were not disrupted by the issue.
Virgin Australia operates four A320 aircraft, which service regional routes in Western Australia and do not fly in or out of Melbourne airport.
“We do not anticipate any impact to either Virgin Australia or our Regional Airline operations,” a spokesman for Virgin Australia said.
It is understood there has been no impact on Qantas aircraft.
The Elevator and Aileron Computer (ELAC), made by multinational aerospace and weapons manufacturer Thales, has been identified as the faulty software.
“Analysis of a recent event involving an A320 Family aircraft has revealed that intense solar radiation may corrupt data critical to the functioning of flight controls,” the aircraft manufacturer said in a statement.
“Airbus has consequently identified a significant number of A320 Family aircraft currently in-service which may be impacted.
“Airbus acknowledges these recommendations will lead to operational disruptions to passengers and customers.
“We apologise for the inconvenience caused and will work closely with operators, while keeping safety as our number one and overriding priority.”
Originally published as Global Airbus grounding creates havoc at Melbourne Airport
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