IndiGo Completes Safety Upgrades On 160 A320 Aircraft, No Cancellations Reported

IndiGo on Saturday said it has completed the requisite upgrades of 160 A320 family aircraft till noon and inspections are progressing for the remaining 40 such planes.

The airline also said that no flights have been cancelled due to these checks. However, a few flights may experience minimal delays.

“Our diligent and hardworking engineering teams have already completed the mandatory Airbus safety update on 160 out of 200 AIB mandated A320-family aircraft, ensuring our fleet remains ready, reliable, and safe for your travels.

Thanks to their tireless efforts through the night, we have maintained minimal delays and zero cancellations, keeping your plans on track with the least possible disruption,” the airline wrote on X.

“The remaining aircraft

will be fully compliant well within the required timelines, and we’re committed to keeping your experience smooth every step of the way. Thank you for your trust as we continue to put your safety and convenience first—always,” it added.

The move follows a technical alert from Airbus and an Emergency Airworthiness Directive issued by the European Union Aviation Safety Agency (EASA), which flagged a potential malfunction in the aircraft’s Elevator Aileron Computer (ELAC).

The development led India’s largest carriers, IndiGo and Air India, to caution passengers about possible delays and longer turnaround times as their fleets undergo software resets and, in some cases, hardware replacements.

What DGCA Said?

The Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) has in its own directive banned the use of multiple Airbus aircraft models following concerns about a safety risk posed by the company’s software update.

The directive covers 338 jets, 56% (189 aircraft) of which have already received the software upgrade by Saturday afternoon, DGCA added.

The authority said affected aircraft must complete the required software and hardware updates and undergo mandatory inspections before being cleared to fly again. Airlines have been asked to complete the process at the earliest to minimise disruption.

Technical Problem Behind Directive

The DGCA order centres on the Elevator Aileron Computer (ELAC), part of the A320 series’ primary flight-control system. The ELAC manages pitch and roll, two critical axes governing an aircraft’s stability. Airbus identified a possible malfunction in the ELAC B L104 variant after a recent incident in which an A320 experienced an “uncommanded and limited pitch-down event”.

Although the autopilot remained engaged and the flight proceeded safely, the unusual behaviour triggered a swift investigation.

EASA’s emergency directive cautions that if the issue is not rectified, it could lead to uncommanded elevator movement and, in extreme cases, impose loads beyond the aircraft’s structural limits. As a precaution, regulators have mandated the immediate installation of a serviceable, safer ELAC unit before the next flight.

India has adopted the same requirement, applying it to nearly all variants of the A319, A320 and A321 families- both CEO and NEO- covering all affected serial numbers identified globally.