Flight Disruption In India: Why A320 Jets Are Grounded, Airlines’ Advisories And What Happens Next

India’s civil aviation regulator issued an urgent safety order requiring airlines to inspect and replace a critical flight-control computer on a wide range of Airbus A320-family aircraft. The Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) directive grounds any affected aircraft until the mandatory fix is completed. The action follows an Airbus technical alert and an Emergency Airworthiness Directive from the European Union Aviation Safety Agency (EASA), which identified a potential malfunction in the aircraft’s flight-control computer.

The move prompted India’s largest airlines, IndiGo and Air India, to warn passengers of delays and longer turnaround times as they begin implementing the software and hardware resets across their fleets.

What’s Happening:

Technical Problem Behind Directive

The DGCA’s order concerns the Elevator Aileron Computer (ELAC), part of the Airbus A320 series’ primary flight-control system responsible for managing pitch and roll- two critical axes of aircraft stability. Airbus identified a potential malfunction in a specific ELAC variant (ELAC B L104) after an A320 experienced an “uncommanded and limited pitch-down event”, although the autopilot remained engaged and the flight continued safely.

EASA’s emergency directive warns that if the issue is not corrected, the faulty system could, in the worst case, trigger uncommanded elevator movement that may risk exceeding the aircraft’s structural limits. To prevent such an occurrence, EASA has ordered immediate installation of a safer, serviceable ELAC unit.

India has adopted the same requirement, directing airlines to replace or modify the affected unit before further operation. The order applies to nearly all variants of the A319, A320 and A321 families- both CEO (older engine option) and NEO (new engine option)- covering every serial number listed globally.

What Airlines Are Saying: Delays And Turnaround Changes Expected

Air India said that the Airbus directive would require a “software/hardware realignment” on part of its A320-family fleet. The airline cautioned passengers about longer turnaround times and delays, apologised for the disruption and urged travellers to check flight status before leaving for the airport.

IndiGo said it was proactively completing the mandated updates “with full diligence and care” and signalled that some flights may see slight schedule changes. The airline encouraged passengers to monitor real-time flight status on its website or app.

Both airlines are expected to rotate aircraft through the modification process gradually, meaning disruptions will likely be scattered rather than widespread.

What This Means for Passengers: Will Flights Be Cancelled Or Grounded?

The DGCA has made its position unambiguous: no affected aircraft may operate until the required inspection or modification is completed. This means only those aircraft that already have the newer ELAC model installed can continue flying while aircraft awaiting the update may be temporarily grounded. Airlines are expected to swap aircraft where possible and adjust schedules to minimise disruptions but delays, gate changes and short-notice rescheduling may still occur. Passengers should anticipate operational variability over the next several days as airlines work through the mandated resets.

What Happens Next?

EASA requires the replacement before the next flight for affected aircraft, with only minimal exceptions, such as short ferry flights without passengers to a maintenance base. In practice, each update could take several hours depending on engineering availability and access to serviceable components. Airlines are therefore likely to stagger the modifications across their fleets to keep as many aircraft in service as possible.

IndiGo has the largest A320-family fleet in India, while Air India and Vistara also operate several affected variants. Not every aircraft will need the same level of work as some may already carry the newer ELAC model and will not require grounding.

Given the size of the fleets and the availability of replacement aircraft, passengers should expect a rolling impact on schedules, primarily in the form of delays and reduced on-time performance, rather than mass cancellations or large-scale grounding.

Should Passengers Be Worried About Safety?

No. Aviation regulators tend to act out of abundant caution when flight-control computers exhibit even limited anomalies. The aircraft involved in the triggering incident landed safely and the directive is preventive rather than reactive. By mandating the ELAC replacement, regulators are ensuring that the entire fleet remains aligned with global safety standards.

What Happens If Airlines Miss EASA Deadline?

As per the EASA emergency directive, the compliance deadline for Indian carriers falls at 5:30 a.m. tomorrow. Any aircraft that has not received the required ELAC upgrade by this cut-off may have to be grounded until the modification is completed.