Along with various airlines throughout the world, Vietjet received a late-night alert from Airbus on 28 November which set off an emergency directive from the European Union Aviation Safety Agency (EASA).
The said directive required all airlines to update critical flight-control software on nearly 6,000 A320-family aircraft within 32 hours.
Vietjet, operating 69 of the 81 affected aircraft in Vietnam, launched an immediate response to meet the deadline and avoid grounding.
The Vietnamese low-cost carrier activated its Emergency Response Committee, mobilising engineering and operations teams to optimise updates using real-time fleet data.
A pivotal moment occurred when engineer Nguyen Van Trung reduced the standard three-hour software update to just 45 minutes, enabling the process to be standardised across stations.
This efficiency allowed all 69 aircraft to be updated nearly four hours before the deadline, ensuring no disruptions to operations.
In the name of risk reduction
The directive addressed a technical risk where solar radiation could interfere with the Elevator and Aileron Computer (ELAC) software, potentially causing uncommanded nose-down inputs.
Vietjet's swift action underscored its operational resilience and technical expertise under extreme regulatory pressure.
To Viet Thang, Vietjet’s Standing Vice President, highlighted the operation as a defining moment, transforming a standard procedure into a benchmark under pressure whilst maintaining safety standards.
Likewise, Uong Viet Dung, Director General of the Civil Aviation Authority of Vietnam, praised the airline's proactive response and preparedness.
The operation demonstrated Vietjet's ability to rapidly assess resources, deploy optimised solutions, and maintain flight operations in line with international safety standards. This coordinated effort reflected the airline's readiness to meet time-critical regulatory demands.
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