A JetBlue flight that suddenly plunged 100 feet in October, injuring passengers and forcing an emergency landing, was likely struck by cosmic rays from space, according to experts investigating the incident.[1]

The Incident

JetBlue Flight B6-1174 was cruising at 37,000 feet on October 30, 2025, traveling from Cancun to Newark when the aircraft abruptly dropped 100 feet in just seven seconds.[2] The sudden altitude loss injured 15-20 passengers, though none critically.[3]

Investigators found nothing mechanically wrong with the Airbus A320 aircraft, leading scientists to explore an unusual explanation.

The Cosmic Ray Theory

Space expert Clive Dyer believes the plane was struck by high-energy particles from a supernova—a star that exploded in another galaxy millions of years ago. These cosmic rays traveled across the universe and struck the aircraft, causing what’s known as a “bit-flip” in the plane’s computer systems.[4]

A bit-flip occurs when cosmic radiation corrupts data in electronic systems, causing computers to malfunction. The phenomenon can affect any electronic device, from aircraft systems to medical pacemakers.

Technical Explanation

The incident was linked to software vulnerability in the aircraft’s ELAC (Elevator Aileron Computer) L104 software, which can be corrupted by solar particle radiation.[5] The software was designed to protect against in-flight loss of control, but intense solar radiation during a geomagnetic storm corrupted the flight-control data.

Airbus expressed concern that “intense solar radiation” could affect flight-control functions.

Massive Fleet Grounding

The incident triggered an extraordinary response from aviation regulators. European and US aviation authorities ordered a temporary grounding of approximately 5,900-6,200 Airbus A320 aircraft worldwide—the largest single-model grounding since the Boeing 737 MAX crisis.

Safety regulators instructed airlines to uninstall the L104 software and revert to an earlier version. Several affected airlines restored their aircraft to operational status within hours.

Not the First Time

This isn’t the first suspected cosmic ray incident involving commercial aircraft. In 2008, a Qantas Airbus A330 plunged twice in quick succession, injuring over 100 people. Investigators considered cosmic rays as a possible cause after finding wildly inaccurate data from an avionics box.[6]