NEW DELHI: In an unprecedented nationwide aviation safety action, India has grounded 338 Airbus A320-family aircraft operated by IndiGo, Air India, and Air India Express, following an urgent safety directive that mandates a critical software upgrade in the Elevator Aileron Computer (ELAC).
The directive was issued after a recent Airbus A320 flight experienced an “uncommanded and limited pitch-down event”, prompting immediate concern from global regulators.
The grounding, carried out under a Mandatory Modification issued by the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) on 29 November 2025, follows an Emergency Airworthiness Directive (AD 2025-0268-E) released by the European Union Aviation Safety Agency (EASA) a day earlier.
The emergency order directs operators worldwide to install updated ELAC software or replace the affected unit to prevent potential unsafe conditions.
According to DGCA compliance documents, of the 338 aircraft grounded, 270 aircraft have successfully completed the software upgrade, while 68 aircraft remain under the modification process.
Engineering teams across all major metro airports were mobilized to ensure round-the-clock compliance under tight deadlines.
What Triggered the Grounding?
A DGCA-shared press note from Airbus reveals that an A320 aircraft experienced a sudden, though limited, nose-down movement during flight while the autopilot was still engaged.
Although the flight stabilized quickly, Airbus’ preliminary technical assessment identified a potential ELAC malfunction, leading the manufacturer to issue an Alert Operators Transmission (AOT A27N022-25 Rev 00) on 28 November 2025.
The DGCA, EASA, and Indian airlines acted immediately, initiating mandatory checks and grounding affected aircraft for the software upgrade.
Operator-Wise Impact and Status
IndiGo (InterGlobe Aviation Ltd.)
- Total affected: 200 aircraft
- Software upgrades completed: 184
- Flight cancellations: None reported
- Completion target: By 23:59 hrs on November 29
- Upgrade bases: Delhi, Mumbai, Bengaluru, Chennai, Hyderabad, Ahmedabad, Kolkata
Earlier DGCA data at 10 AM showed upgrades completed on only 143 aircraft, indicating rapid engineering deployment through the day.
Air India
- Total affected: 113 aircraft (104 A320neo + 9 A320ceo)
- Upgrades completed: 69
- Flight cancellations: None reported
- Completion target: End of day, November 29
- Upgrade bases: Delhi, Mumbai, Bengaluru, Hyderabad, Kolkata, Chennai
Morning compliance stood at 42 aircraft, later rising sharply to 69 by 17:30 hrs.
Air India Express
- Total affected: 25 aircraft
- Upgrades completed: 17
- Flights impacted: 4 cancellations; delays reported
- Completion target: November 29
- Upgrade bases: Delhi, Bengaluru, Chennai
AI Express faced the highest operational disruption among the three carriers due to its smaller fleet size.
Minimal Disruption Despite Scale of Grounding
Despite grounding nearly their entire Airbus narrow-body fleets, both IndiGo and Air India reported zero cancellations, aided by operational buffers and round-the-clock engineering support.
Only Air India Express experienced cancellations and delays, largely due to limited fleet flexibility.
The DGCA stated that the grounding was a precautionary measure and that Indian carriers responded “immediately and effectively” to ensure passenger safety while keeping operational impact minimal.
All remaining upgrades are expected to be completed within hours as per airline timelines. The DGCA will issue consolidated clearance for full operational restoration once all 338 aircraft are compliant.
This coordinated safety drive — spanning three airlines, seven major airports, and hundreds of engineers — marks one of India’s fastest technical compliance operations, underscoring a heightened global focus on flight safety following the Airbus pitch-event incident.
