Passenger plane recall couldn’t come at worse moment for US – it’s the busiest travel holiday of the year
By David Blevins, US correspondent
The recall of Airbus A320s couldn’t come at a worse moment in the United States.
Thanksgiving is the busiest travel holiday of the year, with six million people travelling by air.
American Airlines said none of its 480-strong fleet had experienced the software issue spotted by Airbus.
But it has identified that 340 planes will require the software fix, and that work has begun.
In a statement, Delta said fewer than 50 of its aircraft had been impacted.
The United States is the world’s largest aviation market, with its airlines carrying more than eight million passengers last year.
According to the Federal Aviation Authority, air traffic controllers in the US handle 44,000 flights and more than three million passengers across 29 million square miles of airspace daily.
Tragedies like the passenger jet crash in Washington DC, which claimed 67 lives in January, have raised concerns – and this decision, although precautionary, will only add to them.
US Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy insists America’s skies are safe and has focused his efforts in recent days on restoring “civility” among passengers.
Watch below: Blevins speaking to our presenter Gillian Joseph
Software issue hits thousands of Airbus planes
