Istanbul: A global technical malfunction affecting thousands of Airbus aircraft has touched the papal journey, temporarily grounding the plane designated to carry Pope Leo XIV from Turkey to Lebanon. The issue, linked to interference caused by intense solar radiation, has forced urgent corrective measures just hours before the next leg of the Pope’s apostolic visit.
According to reports, nearly 6,000 Airbus A320-series aircraft were taken out of operation over the weekend after aviation authorities and Airbus engineers detected that elevated levels of solar activity could disrupt certain onboard flight control computers. The concern centred on the potential for data corruption affecting avionics stability, prompting airlines globally to pause operations until safety could be assured.
While most grounded aircraft required only a rapid software update, approximately 900 jets including the papal aircraft needed a complete hardware replacement of the affected computer units before returning to service.
The Holy See Press Office confirmed that the Vatican and ITA Airways acted quickly to avoid delays in the Pope’s schedule.
Matteo Bruni, Director of the Press Office, said a special ITA Airways flight arrived in Istanbul from Rome on Saturday night carrying both a senior technician and the replacement computer system needed for the Pope’s A320neo. The repair work was undertaken immediately to ensure the aircraft met all safety and operational requirements.
Pope Leo XIV is scheduled to depart from Istanbul around midday on 30 November, heading to Beirut for the second phase of his apostolic journey to Turkey and Lebanon. The roughly two-hour flight is expected to proceed without disruption following the successful replacement of the faulty hardware.
Despite the unexpected aviation setback, Vatican officials expressed confidence that the papal itinerary would continue smoothly, with no major adjustments anticipated. The Holy See also extended appreciation to ITA Airways and Turkish aviation authorities for their swift coordination amid an unprecedented technical event affecting aircraft worldwide.