When Airbus issued an urgent technical alert at 11:00 p.m. on 28 November, Vietjet was thrust into one of the most time-critical operational challenges in its history.
The alert, followed immediately by a mandatory Emergency Airworthiness Directive (EAD) from the European Union Aviation Safety Agency (EASA) required the ELAC flight-control software on all Airbus A319, A320 and A321 aircraft worldwide to be updated or replaced before 6:59 a.m. on 30 November.
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The directive addressed a rare but serious risk: under certain conditions, the software could be affected by solar radiation interference that could trigger uncommanded nose-down inputs. Nearly 6,000 aircraft globally were impacted. In Vietnam alone, 81 aircraft required urgent action, 69 of which were operated by Vietjet.
Within hours of receiving Airbus’ alert, Vietjet activated its Emergency Response Committee, mobilising engineering, flight operations, scheduling, and technology teams across its network.
Using its Analysis of Moment Structures (AMOS) maintenance management system, powered by big data and AI, Vietjet conducted a real-time assessment of its fleet, identifying aircraft configurations, locations, and operational constraints. At the same time, contingency plans were developed to maintain network stability, including aircraft redeployment and schedule optimisation to minimise passenger disruption.
The challenge was further compounded by logistics. Airbus estimated each software update would take two to three hours per aircraft, while specialised equipment was limited and aircraft were operating across multiple countries.
The operation reached a turning point in Da Nang, where Vietjet engineer Nguyen Van Trung, drawing on more than 15 years of hands-on experience, completed a full ELAC software update in just 45 minutes while adhering to stringent safety protocols.
Aircraft software updates are complex, multi-layered procedures. Each aircraft has a unique configuration that must be verified, standardised, tested, and cross-checked. One engineer performs the update while another independently monitors parameters and documentation.
“Nothing can be skipped,” Trung said. “But experience allows you to know exactly where time can be optimised, and where it absolutely cannot.”
The first aircraft to complete the update, VN-A644, marked a decisive breakthrough. The optimised 45-minute procedure was immediately standardised and shared with engineering teams at Noi Bai, Tan Son Nhat, Da Nang and international stations, accelerating progress across the fleet.
Alongside software updates, Vietjet prepared hardware contingency solutions, pre-positioning ELAC units from grounded aircraft for immediate replacement if required. The airline also received support from Vietjet Thailand and other carriers, including Vietnam Airlines and Bamboo Airways, which provided additional equipment to help scale the operation.
Digitalised technical documentation, standardised software libraries, and real-time fleet visibility allowed Vietjet to compress administrative timelines while maintaining full compliance with Airbus and EASA safety requirements.
Aircraft were scheduled for updates between flights at the airline’s main technical bases, ensuring continuity of operations while meeting the regulatory deadline.
By 3:00 a.m. on 30 November, all 69 affected Vietjet aircraft had successfully completed the required software updates, nearly four hours ahead of the EASA deadline. No aircraft was grounded as a result of the issue, and network stability was maintained throughout the operation.
For Vietjet’s leadership team, engineers and operations staff, the final hours of November represented more than a technical mission.
Vietjet’s Standing Vice President Viet Thang (below) said the 32-hour effort stands as a defining moment – one that transformed a standard three-hour procedure into a 45-minute benchmark under extreme pressure, while upholding uncompromising safety standards.
According to Uong Viet Dung, Director General of the Civil Aviation Authority of Vietnam (CAAV), Vietjet and other Vietnamese airlines acted proactively from the moment Airbus issued its alert.
Despite the vast number of affected aircraft, Vietjet had prepared thoroughly in terms of technical capability, personnel, equipment and digital systems, enabling the airline to meet the emergency airworthiness requirements within the mandated timeframe.
