Explained: What is the Airbus A320 software issue and why are 6,000 planes grounded

Airbus has grounded 6,000 A320 aircraft—half its global fleet—for emergency software fixes after discovering intense solar radiation can corrupt critical flight control systems. The unprecedented recall follows an October incident when a JetBlue flight suddenly nosedived without pilot input, forcing an emergency landing. Airlines worldwide face massive disruptions during peak travel season, with repairs taking hours for most planes but weeks for 1,000 older jets requiring hardware replacements. The incident is being hailed as the largest aircraft recall in history.