## Thousands of planes need urgent maintenance Thousands of widely used passenger aircraft require urgent maintenance to address a technical issue that recently caused passenger injuries and forced an emergency landing. The problem affects some of the most popular single-aisle jets in service and has prompted rapid safety actions across the aviation industry. ## Solar storm flight control risk Intense solar activity, such as powerful solar storms and flares, has been linked to disruptions in systems that support pilots’ control of certain passenger planes. Engineers determined that under extreme solar radiation, critical flight control functions could be affected, creating a risk of pilots temporarily losing control of the aircraft. ## Recent incident and consequences Last month, an affected aircraft suddenly lost stable flight, injuring passengers and forcing the crew to perform an emergency landing. Several people required medical attention after the incident, highlighting that this is not just a theoretical risk but a real safety concern that has already had consequences. ## Scope of affected aircraft The issue involves thousands of single-aisle passenger jets, among the best-selling models in the world, which operate on short- and medium-haul routes globally. Airlines and regulators are treating the problem as a priority, given the large number of aircraft involved and their central role in everyday commercial aviation. ## Planned fixes and safety measures Emergency maintenance programs and software or system updates are being prepared and applied to remove the risk of loss of control during strong solar storms. The goal is to complete the necessary work as quickly as possible so that aircraft can continue to fly safely while minimizing disruptions for passengers. > Thousands of the most popular passenger aircraft in the world need emergency maintenance to protect from a problem that injured passengers and caused an emergency landing last month. ### Author’s summary A rare but serious solar storm vulnerability has forced urgent fixes to thousands of best-selling passenger jets after one incident injured travelers and showed the need for rapid safety upgrades.

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CNN on MSN — 2025-11-29