India's aviation regulator has issued an urgent safety directive affecting hundreds of aircraft operated by the country's leading airlines, potentially causing significant disruption to air travel over the coming days.
DGCA's Mandatory Safety Directive
The Director General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) on Saturday issued a compulsory safety order for all Airbus A318, A319, A320, and A321 aircraft operating in Indian airspace. This decisive action follows Airbus's announcement of an urgent software repair requirement for approximately 6,000 A320-family jets worldwide - a massive recall impacting more than half of the global fleet.
The DGCA notification explicitly stated that inspection and modification are mandatory, requiring airlines to update their mandatory modification lists immediately. The order clearly specifies that no aircraft falling under this directive can operate unless it complies with the modification requirements and applicable airworthiness directives.
Massive Impact on Indian Aviation
In India, the directive will ground more than 350 A320 aircraft operated by IndiGo and Air India for approximately two to three days while technicians perform the necessary software updates. Aviation industry sources expect normal operations to resume by Monday or Tuesday, though the timeline remains fluid.
Air India confirmed awareness of the Airbus directive affecting its A320 family aircraft currently in service. The airline explained that the process requires "software/hardware realignment" on a significant portion of its fleet and warned passengers about likely "longer turnaround times and delays."
The Tata Group-owned carrier recently completed refurbishment of 27 older A320neo aircraft and now operates approximately 104 A320-family jets, having integrated new deliveries and aircraft from the Vistara merger.
Airlines Respond to Safety Directive
IndiGo, India's largest carrier by market share, confirmed it is implementing the directive with its characteristic emphasis on safety. "Safety comes first," stated the airline, adding that it is carrying out the updates "with full diligence and care."
The budget airline has proactively cautioned passengers about potential schedule changes affecting some flights. With over 350 A320-family aircraft in its fleet, predominantly newer variants, IndiGo anticipates completing updates on approximately 250 planes by Monday or Tuesday.
Air India, operating between 120-125 A320s, expects to complete modifications on more than 100 aircraft within a similar timeframe. Both airlines are working to minimize passenger inconvenience while ensuring full compliance with the safety directive.
What Triggered the Global Recall?
The urgent software upgrade requirement stems from an incident involving a JetBlue A320 flying from Cancun to Newark on October 30, 2025. According to the National Transportation Safety Board investigation, the aircraft experienced an unexpected pitch downward without pilot input.
The sudden altitude drop "likely occurred during an ELAC (flight control computer) switch change," prompting the aircraft to divert to Tampa. The incident resulted in some passengers requiring hospitalization, though the exact number and severity of injuries weren't specified in initial reports.
This safety scare triggered Airbus's global recall and subsequent regulatory actions worldwide, including DGCA's mandatory order for Indian operators. The software patch aims to prevent similar incidents by addressing potential vulnerabilities in the flight control computer systems.
Passengers booked on IndiGo and Air India flights over the next few days are advised to check their flight status regularly and allow extra time for potential delays as airlines work through the mandatory update process.
