The Sun's fury could spoil your next holiday. Scientists say aircraft need more protection from solar storms | BBC Sky at Night Magazine

Extreme space weather could force airlines to reroute or even ground flights to avoid exposing passengers and crew to harmful radiation.

A new study led by the University of Surrey in the UK has examined how extreme solar particle events can affect aircraft at typical cruising altitudes of 8–14km (5–9 miles).

Researchers found that radiation rises dramatically during these powerful events, while high-energy particles can also trigger errors in aircraft electronics.

More on solar storms

The problem is greatest on high-latitude and polar routes, where Earth’s magnetic field provides less shielding from incoming particles.

During severe geomagnetic storms, however, the effects can extend much farther south, including over the UK.

Measurements made by the Surrey Space Centre during a major solar storm in November 2025 showed radiation briefly approaching 10 times the normal cruising-altitude levels.

Radiation is not only a concern for human health. High-energy particles can produce ‘single-event upsets’, errors in onboard electronics that can build up and corrupt critical systems.

After the November storm, Airbus said an incident involving an A320 aircraft showed that “intense solar radiation may corrupt data critical to the functioning of flight controls”.

Around 6,000 aircraft were temporarily grounded for software and hardware updates.

“At the moment, there is no consistent way for the aviation sector to assess and respond to extreme space weather risks,” says Surrey’s Professor Keith Ryden.

The team have proposed an atmospheric radiation scale with clear response thresholds.

Combined with radiation measurements and space-weather forecasts, it could help airlines respond proportionately to future solar storms.