JetBlue passengers injured as Airbus orders urgent software fix for A320 jets

Airbus has ordered airlines to carry out an urgent software update on its A320 aircraft after a technical issue caused injuries to passengers during a JetBlue flight late last month.

The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) confirmed the requirement following the Oct. 30 incident in which at least 15 passengers were hurt aboard a JetBlue flight travelling from Cancun, Mexico, to Newark, New Jersey. The aircraft was forced to divert to Tampa, Florida, where the injured passengers were taken to hospital.

Aviation analyst Henry Stengel described the situation as a “serious event happening on a very ubiquitous aircraft on a busy holiday weekend,” noting that the A320 is among the most widely used jets globally. He said the software fix “should take only a few hours” to complete.

Airbus, headquartered in France with corporate registration in the Netherlands, is one of the world’s leading commercial aircraft manufacturers. Its A320 family competes directly with Boeing’s 737 series in the single-aisle market. The updated A320neo line, launched in the mid-2010s, features more efficient engines and has become the best-selling aircraft in its class, according to Airbus.

Airlines are expected to implement the software update promptly to prevent similar incidents and ensure continued safe operation of the A320 fleet.