American Airlines: All Airbus jets cleared after software issue

As of November 29, 2025, thousands of travelers with tight immigration deadlines breathed a little easier after American Airlines confirmed that all Airbus jets it had grounded because of a global software issue were back in service. The airline said the problem, which involved a critical malfunction in the flight control software on certain Airbus aircraft, had forced it to pull about 120 Airbus aircraft from its schedule for two weeks. That disruption strained capacity on domestic and international routes that many visa holders, new immigrants, and Green Card applicants rely on to reach the United States 🇺🇸 or return to their home countries after appointments.

Timeline and regulatory action

The global software issue was first detected on November 15, 2025, when carriers reported irregular behavior in the flight control systems of A320 and A321 Airbus jets. To avoid any safety risk, American Airlines temporarily grounded the affected aircraft, which represented roughly 40% of its domestic fleet.

This announcement, confirmed by American Airlines spokesperson Jennifer Davis, Vice President of Communications, came one day after the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) approved a software fix developed by Airbus engineers.

“Safety remains our top priority. We worked closely with Airbus and the FAA to resolve this issue swiftly and thoroughly. We appreciate our customers’ patience during this disruption,” Davis said in a written statement.

According to Davis, the software update was developed and tested over a two‑week period in close coordination with Airbus and aviation regulators. Once the FAA issued its approval on November 28, 2025, American Airlines began returning each Airbus jet to service, completing the process by November 29.

Who was affected and how

American Airlines did not release exact passenger counts, but immigration lawyers warned that even short‑term flight disruptions can have outsized effects on foreign nationals whose legal status hinges on strict arrival windows.

Key impacts included:
– Tighter seat availability and higher fares in some markets.
– Anxiety and logistical difficulties for people with hard immigration deadlines.
– Greater risk of missed consular interviews, biometric appointments, or U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) interviews.

Visa holders often face non‑flexible requirements:
– Many visas require entry to the United States by a specific date, or the document may be cancelled or need reissuance.
– Consular appointments overseas frequently have limited availability; missing one can mean waiting months for another slot.
– Some cases — for example, diversity visa winners required to enter by the end of the fiscal year — can be particularly time‑sensitive.

Specific concerns for advance parole and Green Card applicants

Travel disruptions often hit certain groups especially hard, including people waiting on advance parole travel documents and those who must leave and reenter the country to finalize status changes.

• A Green Card applicant who departs the U.S. with advance parole based on Form I-131 and then misses a return flight because of a sudden grounding can face extra stress about whether their document will still be valid upon attempted reentry.
• Official guidance from USCIS is available on the agency’s Form I-131 page. That guidance explains that most advance parole documents list a clear validity period and that travelers must return within those dates.

Why the timing mattered

The completion of the software fix by November 29 mattered for people trying to make it to:
– USCIS interviews
– Embassy appointments
– School start dates tied to student visas

With the Airbus fleet restored, American Airlines was able to resume normal schedules on routes that carry large numbers of immigrants and visitors. That return to regular operations relieved immediate capacity strains across many hubs and connection points.

Practical advice for travelers with immigration deadlines

American Airlines advised customers to monitor flight status through its website or customer service channels, especially if they have important appointments scheduled soon after arrival.

Many immigration attorneys recommend the following steps to reduce risks when travel is tied to immigration processes:

1. Keep physical and digital copies of important documents:
   • Appointment notices
   • Visa pages
   • Approval notices
2. Carry those documents in your carry‑on bag to show airline staff if rebooking is needed.
3. Contact airline customer service as early as possible when delays occur and explain the immigration stakes.
4. Consider alternative routing or earlier travel when deadlines are tight, if feasible.

Although carriers aren’t required to prioritize passengers based on immigration needs, having documentation handy can sometimes help airline agents understand the urgency.

Technical and regulatory notes

Regulators have not publicly disclosed detailed technical specifications of the glitch beyond describing it as a critical software malfunction in the flight control systems. The FAA emphasized that its priority was ensuring the fix restored full safety margins before passengers returned to the affected planes.

For immigrants and visitors planning trips, the news that the Airbus fleet is back in the air offers reassurance that the worst of this particular global software issue has passed. Still, the episode underscores how dependent modern migration has become on complex technology — from aircraft software and digital booking systems to the online portals that manage visa applications and travel authorizations.

Key takeaways

• The affected Airbus jets (about 120 aircraft, ~40% of American’s domestic fleet) were grounded starting November 15, 2025 and returned to service by November 29, 2025 after an FAA‑approved software fix.
• The grounding caused capacity constraints that threatened time‑sensitive immigration travel for visa holders, students, Green Card applicants, and others.
• Travelers with immigration deadlines should monitor flights, keep documentation handy, and contact airlines promptly if rebooking becomes necessary.

For now, American Airlines passengers whose plans are tied to immigration steps can board Airbus flights with greater confidence.