Regulators issued an urgent directive to Airbus A320 operators on Friday, warning that the planes require a software update. An issue with the flight control software was identified and airlines will be required to correct the problem before their planes are permitted to fly again.
Because Airbus planes are manufactured by a European company, the European Union Aviation Safety Agency issued the initial order, and the Federal Aviation Administration in the U.S. will likely issue its own version subsequently.
Airbus found that a recent solar radiation burst (basically a very strong wave of energy from the sun) affected the computer data on at least one Airbus A320-series plane.
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"An Airbus A320 aeroplane recently experienced an uncommanded and limited pitch down event. The autopilot remained engaged throughout the event, with a brief and limited loss of altitude, and the rest of the flight was uneventful," EASA's Emergency Airworthiness Directive said.
