Global News Podcast Technical issue causes global flight disruption
54 snips
Nov 29, 2025 
Sebastian Usher, a global affairs reporter, dives into the Airbus grounding thousands of planes due to a critical software issue, shedding light on the travel chaos ahead. Julie Barlin, a global health professor, shares insights from the WHO's new infertility guidelines, focusing on its social and mental health impacts. Oleksandr Maresko discusses the political ramifications of Andriy Yermak's resignation amid Ukraine's corruption scandal. Meanwhile, Gordon Carrara humorously explores the historical use of pigeons in warfare and the bizarre notion of 'spy pigeons' today.
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Widespread A320 Software Vulnerability
- Airbus recalled about 6,000 A320 family planes after a solar-storm-related software corruption caused an uncontrolled descent.
- Around 5,000 planes need a quick software update while roughly 1,000 may need hardware replacement and longer grounding.
Check Airline Updates Before Travel
- Expect flight delays and cancellations and check airline websites or apps for updates before traveling.
- Tim Johnson from the UK Civil Aviation Authority advised passengers to monitor airline communications for latest info.
Hardware Replacements Could Ground Planes
- Most affected A320s can be fixed with a software update in a few hours but about 1,000 require new hardware and could be grounded for weeks.
- The A320's ubiquity raises potential for significant operational and reputational impact on Airbus.
