{"id":2518161,"date":"2025-12-05T20:20:01","date_gmt":"2025-12-06T01:20:01","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/jetblue-plane-that-abruptly-lost-altitude-and-made-emergency-landing-was-likely-hit-by-cosmic-ray-expert\/"},"modified":"2025-12-05T20:25:48","modified_gmt":"2025-12-06T01:25:48","slug":"jetblue-plane-that-abruptly-lost-altitude-and-made-emergency-landing-was-likely-hit-by-cosmic-ray-expert","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/jetblue-plane-that-abruptly-lost-altitude-and-made-emergency-landing-was-likely-hit-by-cosmic-ray-expert\/","title":{"rendered":"JetBlue Plane That Abruptly Lost Altitude and Made Emergency Landing Was Likely Hit by Cosmic Ray: Expert"},"content":{"rendered":"<aside class=\"mashsb-container mashsb-main mashsb-stretched\"><div class=\"mashsb-box\"><div class=\"mashsb-count mash-medium\" style=\"&quot;\"><div class=\"counts mashsbcount\">34<\/div><span class=\"mashsb-sharetext\">SHARES<\/span><\/div><div class=\"mashsb-buttons\"><a class=\"mashicon-facebook mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/sharer.php?u=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.conservativenewsdaily.net%2Fbreaking-news%2Fjetblue-plane-that-abruptly-lost-altitude-and-made-emergency-landing-was-likely-hit-by-cosmic-ray-expert%2F\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Facebook<\/span><\/a><a class=\"mashicon-twitter mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/intent\/tweet?text=&amp;url=https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/?p=2518161&amp;via=ConservNewsDly\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Twitter<\/span><\/a><a class=\"mashicon-subscribe mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"#\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Subscribe<\/span><\/a><div class=\"onoffswitch2 mash-medium mashsb-noshadow\" style=\"display:none\"><\/div><\/div>\n            <\/div>\n                <div style=\"clear:both\"><\/div><\/aside>\n            <!-- Share buttons by mashshare.net - Version: 4.0.47--><p>A JetBlue Airbus A320 <a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/chinese-plane-crashes-carrying-132-people\/\" title=\"Chinese Plane Crashes Carrying 132 People\">abruptly lost altitude<\/a> on October 30 during a flight from Canc\u00fan to Newark, leading to an emergency landing in Tampa, Florida. At least 15 passengers were injured, though none seriously.Initial investigations suggested a software or flight control system glitch, prompting a worldwide grounding of similar Airbus aircraft models for software updates.<\/p>\n<p>However, a new, speculative theory by space and radiation expert Clive Dyer proposes that a high-energy cosmic ray may have caused the malfunction. Cosmic rays can interfere with microelectronics by causing &#8220;single-event upsets,&#8221; <a href=\"https:\/\/amzn.to\/3YuVZYV\" >potentially scrambling critical flight control systems<\/a> at cruising altitude. This explanation challenges Airbus&#8217;s initial solar radiation theory,noting that solar activity appeared normal that day.<\/p>\n<p>If proven,this cosmic ray theory reveals an unusual vulnerability in modern commercial aircraft electronics,which rely heavily on integrated systems. Manufacturers may need to develop more robust electronic components and improve shielding against such radiation. Though hard to confirm definitively, the incident highlights hidden risks in aviation beyond typical mechanical or weather-related issues and calls for further scrutiny of aircraft electronic systems.  <\/p>\n<p class=\"readmore\">\n    <button onclick=\"showReadMore()\" id=\"readmorebtn\">Read more&#8230;<\/button>\n<\/p>\n<hr id=\"line\">\n<span id=\"more\"><\/p>\n<p><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><\/p>\n<section> \t\t\t\t<script>console.log(\"ad slot (AC1)\")<\/script><script>console.log(\"ad slot (IC1)\")<\/script><script>console.log(\"ad slot (IC2)\")<\/script><script>console.log(\"ad slot (IC3)\")<\/script><script>console.log(\"ad slot (IC4)\")<\/script><\/p>\n<p>A JetBlue Airbus A320 that abruptly lost altitude in late October may have been struck by a high-energy cosmic ray &mdash; according to an expert pushing a surprising, science-fiction-like explanation for the emergency landing.<\/p>\n<p>On Oct. 30, the aircraft was en route from Canc&uacute;n, Mexico, to Newark, New Jersey, when it &ldquo;experienced a flight control issue,&rdquo; according to the <a href=\"https:\/\/apnews.com\/article\/jetblue-flight-emergency-landing-florida-4b5d0809c2a11a197634a4b0cdf343f1\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Associated Press<\/a>. The plane rapidly descended and was forced to divert, making an emergency landing in Tampa, Florida.<\/p>\n<p>At least 15 passengers were taken to hospitals after the incident, with injuries described as non-life-threatening.<\/p>\n<p>Initial investigations flagged a possible software or control system glitch. That prompted a global response: several versions of the affected aircraft family were grounded for software updates, as reported by the <a href=\"https:\/\/nypost.com\/2025\/11\/28\/world-news\/airbus-grounds-6k-planes-after-jet-suddenly-lost-altitude-mid-flight\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">New York Post<\/a>.<\/p>\n<p>But a new theory presented to <a href=\"https:\/\/www.space.com\/technology\/aerospace\/cosmic-ray-forces-airliner-emergency-landing\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Space.com<\/a> challenges the solar radiation explanation and points instead to cosmic radiation.<\/p>\n<p> <script type=\"text\/javascript\"> \t\t\tif ( getCookie( \"ff_subbed\" ) ) { \t\t\t\tdocument.getElementById(\"stnvideo\").remove() \t\t\t} else { \t\t\t\tdocument.addEventListener(\"DOMContentLoaded\", function() { \t\t\t\t\tfunction loadScript(src) { \t\t\t\t\t\tconst script=document.createElement(\"script\"); \t\t\t\t\t\tscript.src=src; \t\t\t\t\t\tscript.async=true; \t\t\t\t\t\tdocument.body.appendChild(script); \t\t\t\t\t} \t\t\t\t\tfunction findPreviousParagraph(selector, x) { \t\t\t\t\t\tconst targetElement=document.querySelector(selector); \t\t\t\t\t\tif (!targetElement) { \t\t\t\t\t\t\tconsole.warn(\"Target element not found.\"); \t\t\t\t\t\t\treturn null; \t\t\t\t\t\t}  \t\t\t\t\t\t\/\/ Get all <\/p>\n<p> elements in order as they appear in the document \t\t\t\t\t\tlet paragraphs=Array.from(document.querySelectorAll(\"p\"));  \t\t\t\t\t\t\/\/ Find the index of the last <\/p>\n<p> before the target element \t\t\t\t\t\tlet targetIndex=paragraphs.findIndex(p=> p.compareDocumentPosition(targetElement) & Node.DOCUMENT_POSITION_PRECEDING);  \t\t\t\t\t\tif (targetIndex===-1 || targetIndex <x) { \t\t\t\t\t\t\tconsole.warn(\"Not enough paragraphs before the target element.\"); \t\t\t\t\t\t\treturn null; \t\t\t\t\t\t}  \t\t\t\t\t\treturn paragraphs[targetIndex - x]; \t\t\t\t\t}  \t\t\t\t\t\/\/ Set up IntersectionObserver \t\t\t\t\tfunction observeElement(element) { \t\t\t\t\t\tif (!element) return;  \t\t\t\t\t\tconst observer=new IntersectionObserver( \t\t\t\t\t\t\t(entries)=> { \t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tentries.forEach(entry=> { \t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tif (entry.isIntersecting) { \t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tconsole.log(\"Paragraph is now visible:\", entry.target.textContent.trim()); \t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tloadScript(\"https:\/\/embed.sendtonews.com\/player3\/embedcode.js?fk=s28Az7AY\"); \t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tobserver.disconnect(); \t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t} \t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t}); \t\t\t\t\t\t\t}, \t\t\t\t\t\t\t{ threshold: 0.5 } \/\/ Adjust threshold as needed \t\t\t\t\t\t);  \t\t\t\t\t\tobserver.observe(element); \t\t\t\t\t}  \t\t\t\t\t\/\/ Find the 1st paragraph before #stnvideo and observe it \t\t\t\t\tlet paragraphToObserve=findPreviousParagraph(\"#stnvideo\", 2); \t\t\t\t\tobserveElement(paragraphToObserve); \t\t\t\t}); \t\t\t} \t\t<\/script> <\/p>\n<p>According to Clive Dyer, a space and radiation expert at the University of Surrey, cosmic rays &ldquo;can interact with modern microelectronics and change the state of a circuit.&rdquo;<\/p>\n<p>He elaborated: &ldquo;They can cause a simple bit flip, like a 0 to 1 or 1 to 0. They can mess up information and make things go wrong. But they can cause hardware failures too, when they induce a current in an electronic device and burn it out.&rdquo;<\/p>\n<p>Dyer&rsquo;s concern is that modern airliners rely heavily on integrated flight control computers. A lone &ldquo;single-event upset&rdquo; &mdash; as the phenomenon is known &mdash; could scramble vital systems at 35,000 feet.<\/p>\n<p>Space.com noted that solar activity on the day of the incident appeared &ldquo;unremarkable,&rdquo; with Dyer casting additional doubt on the Airbus hypothesis that a solar flare or related phenomenon triggered the malfunction.<\/p>\n<p>If true, the cosmic ray explanation would mark a rare but serious vulnerability in commercial aviation &mdash; one that lies outside typical maintenance or weather-related risk models.<\/p>\n<p>Still, the theory remains speculative. Industry officials and regulators point out that proving a specific cosmic ray strike caused a given malfunction is extremely difficult, given the lack of recording sensors and multiple other variables.<\/p>\n<p>Critics caution against drawing conclusions before full investigations are complete. They argue that electronic malfunctions, software bugs, or environmental factors remain plausible explanations.<\/p>\n<p>Even so, Dyer believes the event should prompt deeper scrutiny of aircraft electronics.<\/p>\n<p>He argues that manufacturers need &ldquo;to produce hardy electronics, especially in safety-critical units,&rdquo; to guard against rare but potentially catastrophic cosmic radiation effects.<\/p>\n<p>For passengers, the revelation is unsettling: it suggests that dangers don&rsquo;t just come from weather or mechanical failure &mdash; but from invisible particles from millions of lightyears away.<\/p>\n<p>For regulators and airlines, it may mean rethinking standards for electronic shielding and redundancy on aircraft &mdash; especially for planes whose systems were designed decades ago.<\/p>\n<p>Until investigators release a final report, the cosmic ray hypothesis will remain one of several competing explanations.<\/p>\n<p>What is clear: the incident has reopened serious questions about the hidden risks of <a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/stephen-moore-proposed-airline-merger-would-bring-more-competition-and-lower-fares\/\" title=\"Stephen Moore: Proposed Airline Merger Would Bring More Competition and Lower Fares\">modern air travel<\/a>.<\/p>\n<div style=\"position: relative;\">\n<div class=\"ff-fancy-header-container\"> \t\t\t \t<\/div>\n<div class=\"entry-submit-correction inner-content\">\n<div class=\"correction-form\">\n<form style=\"display: none;\">\n<div class=\"sc-name-field\"> \t\t\t\t\t\t<label>* Name<\/label> \t\t\t\t\t\t<br \/> \t\t\t\t\t\t<input type=\"text\" name=\"name\" required> \t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n<div class=\"sc--field\"> \t\t\t\t\t\t<label>* <\/label> \t\t\t\t\t\t<br \/> \t\t\t\t\t\t<input type=\"text\" name=\"\" required> \t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n<p> \t\t\t\t\t<label>* Message<\/label> \t\t\t\t\t<br \/> \t\t\t\t\t<textarea name=\"message\" required><\/textarea> \t\t\t\t\t \t\t\t\t\t<\/p>\n<div class=\"required-message\" style=\"display: none; padding-bottom: 15px;\">* All fields are required.<\/div>\n<p> \t\t\t\t\t<input type=\"submit\" value=\"Submit\" onclick=\"event.preventDefault(); firefly_sc();\"> \t\t\t\t\t \t\t\t\t\t<\/p>\n<div class=\"firefly-sc-confirm\" style=\"display: none;\">Success!<\/div>\n<\/p><\/form>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<p> \t\t<script> \t\t\tfunction firefly_sc() { \t\t\t\tif( typeof window.captchaPublicKey==typeof undefined ){ \t\t\t\t\tconsole.error('window.captchaPublicKey is not defined'); \t\t\t\t} \t\t\t\tgrecaptcha.execute( window.captchaPublicKey, { action: 'submit_correction' } ).then( function( token ) { \t\t\t\t\tvar opts={ \t\t\t\t\t\taction:    'firefly_sc_submit', \t\t\t\t\t\tname:      document.querySelector( '.entry-submit-correction [name=\"name\"]' ).value, \t\t\t\t\t\t:     document.querySelector( '.entry-submit-correction [name=\"\"]' ).value, \t\t\t\t\t\tmessage:   document.querySelector( '.entry-submit-correction [name=\"message\"]' ).value, \t\t\t\t\t\tpost_id:   firefly_post_id, \t\t\t\t\t\tcap_token: token \t\t\t\t\t}  \t\t\t\t\tvar inputs=[ 'name', '', 'message' ];  \t\t\t\t\tfor( var i=0; i <inputs.length; i++ ) if( ! 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On October 30, while flying from Canc\u00fan, Mexico, to Newark, New Jersey, the plane encountered a flight control problem<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":2518162,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_mo_disable_npp":"","fifu_image_url":"https:\/\/www.westernjournal.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/Ben-Working-Feature-Image-2025-12-05T183335.867.jpg","fifu_image_alt":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[33651],"tags":[38144,68335,44698,34257,45215],"class_list":["post-2518161","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-the-western-journal","tag-aviation-safety","tag-cosmic-ray","tag-emergency-landing","tag-expert-analysis","tag-jetblue"],"fifu_image_url":"https:\/\/www.westernjournal.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/Ben-Working-Feature-Image-2025-12-05T183335.867.jpg","_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2518161","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=2518161"}],"version-history":[{"count":3,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2518161\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":2518165,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2518161\/revisions\/2518165"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/2518162"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=2518161"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=2518161"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=2518161"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}