Flight disruption warning as Airbus requests 'immediate' modifications

The European aviation giant Airbus has requested immediate modifications to a "significant number" of its A320 Family passenger jets currently in service.

A statement released by Airbus on Friday says "intense solar radiation may corrupt data crucial to the functioning of flight controls." The affected aircraft are Airbus' A319, A320 and A321. The firm is requesting airline companies to update their software and acknowledges that the request "will lead to operational disruptions."

Airbus has apologized for "the inconvenience caused." Western media reports said the problem came to light after a US airliner late last month experienced a sudden drop in altitude resulting in several passengers being injured. They say about 6,000 aircraft could be affected.