Hanoi, December 14 - In a swift and coordinated response to a critical global aviation alert, Vietnam's airlines successfully updated the flight-control software on their entire Airbus A320 family fleet within just 32 hours, averting potential disruptions to the nation's bustling air travel network. On November 28, 2025, Airbus issued an urgent directive, followed by the European Union Aviation Safety Agency (EASA) mandating software updates or replacements for ELAC systems on A319, A320, and A321 aircraft by early November 30. The issue stemmed from a vulnerability to solar radiation interference that could trigger uncommanded nose-down inputs, prompting the emergency measure affecting nearly 6,000 aircraft worldwide, including 81 in Vietnam, 69 operated by Vietjet Air, and 18 by Vietnam Airlines.
Vietnam's Civil Aviation Authority (CAAV) immediately convened an emergency meeting with major carriers, highlighting the urgency as many Airbus A320 aircraft were scattered across routes in Vietnam, Laos, Thailand, and China, with limited specialized equipment available. Vietjet Air's leadership, including CEO Dinh Viet Phuong, who received direct communication from Airbus executives, activated its Emergency Response Committee and leveraged advanced tools like AMOS big-data analytics and AI for real-time fleet monitoring. Engineers optimized the update process, reducing it to around 45 minutes per aircraft through streamlined workflows, system inspections, software standardization, rigorous testing, and digital checklists on iPads. Collaboration extended to international bases and support from affiliates like Vietjet Thailand, ensuring updates occurred seamlessly between flights without grounding any Airbus A320 planes.
Vietnam Airlines similarly mobilized late on November 28, completing updates on its 19 affected A321 and A320 aircraft, including one overseas, by 1:00 am on November 30, with direct manufacturer assistance. Vietjet finished its 69 updates even earlier, by 3:00 am, four hours ahead of the deadline. The effort resulted in minimal flight delays and no major cancellations in Vietnam, allowing full resumption of normal operations on November 30.
This remarkable 32-hour Airbus A320 fleet rescue in Vietnam underscores the robustness of the country's aviation sector, with CAAV Director General Uong Viet Dung praising the thorough preparations and balanced approach that prioritized safety while maintaining service continuity amid a worldwide Airbus A320 software update crisis.
