Brazilian Airline Azul: Embraer GPS Fault Cancelled 80+ Flights, Hit 8,000

BRAZIL · AVIATION

Updated 1 times · Latest: 27 September 2026

A global problem with GPS signal reception kept most of Azul’s newest Embraer jets on the ground in Brazil for about three hours.

The Azul Embraer E2 GPS instability stopped almost the whole E195-E2 fleet in Brazil late on Tuesday 22 September 2026. Azul says more than 80 flights were canceled and over 8,000 passengers affected.

A preliminary US Air Force lab analysis, reported by AEROIN, links the fault to a military satellite test.

What changed on 27 September

Azul said on 23 September that more than 80 flights were canceled on 22 September. More than 8,000 customers were hit by cancellations and delays.

On 25 September, Brazilian aviation site AEROIN said the US Air Force Research Laboratory shared a preliminary analysis with it. It found some receivers reacted to unexpected parameters during a routine, pre-approved test of the experimental NTS-3 military satellite.

That differs from first accounts, which placed the fault in how Honeywell’s Primus Epic 2 avionics on the E2 receive GPS signals. AEROIN points to receiver modules made by BendixKing, a Honeywell unit, and says some Pilatus, Gulfstream and Dassault jets were affected.

The link is unconfirmed: Honeywell did not answer AEROIN, satellite maker L3Harris declined to comment, and the Space Force had not replied. Embraer, ANAC and Cenipa, Brazil’s accident investigator, had not published a root cause for the Azul Embraer E2 GPS fault by 27 September.

What the Azul Embraer E2 GPS Instability Is

Azul said on Tuesday 22 September 2026 that a global instability in the GPS system was affecting its Embraer E2 fleet. The airline said the measures were precautionary and could change its network and some flight times.

Specialist aviation outlets report the fault sits in the reception of GPS signals by Honeywell’s Primus Epic 2 avionics. That system is fitted to the E190-E2 and the E195-E2.

Aviacionline reports the fault appears when a jet powers up on the ground before dispatch. A reset restores the signal for a while, but it can return and block departure.

Jets already in the air were able to carry on to their destinations normally. The root cause of the problem has not been confirmed.

Embraer and Honeywell set up a joint crisis team to find the cause. Neither company had published a technical conclusion by 27 September 2026.

How many flights were affected

Azul said on 23 September that more than 80 flights were canceled and over 8,000 customers affected. Reports put the size of its E195-E2 fleet at between 47 and 50 jets.

Aeroin reported that 43 of those jets were on the ground, leaving only two Azul E2s in the air, which implies a fleet of 45. Airway put the number affected at about 45.

The counts differ by outlet, and Azul has not published its own count of grounded jets. At Viracopos International Airport in Campinas, 18 flights were canceled between 17:00 and 21:00 on 22 September.

That total was seven departures and 11 arrivals.A separate power failure at the same airport earlier that day canceled 26 other Azul flights.

The two events are not linked, and the totals should not be added together. Valor Econômico, citing unnamed sources, had said more than 70 flights and over 15,000 passengers were affected.

Azul’s own figures are higher for flights and lower for passengers.

The timeline on Tuesday night

Aviacionline reported that only two Azul E195-E2s were still airborne by 17:30 local time. Departures had largely stopped by about 19:00.

Flights began again late the same evening. Airway reported the first departure at 21:49 from Viracopos, after roughly three hours.

CNN Brasil said Flightradar24 data showed Azul E2 jets operating again on 23 September 2026. Azul has not said whether the fault could return.

Azul told customers to check their booking status on its official channels before going to the airport. It said passengers would receive assistance under the rules of ANAC, Brazil’s civil aviation regulator.

What the companies and the regulator said

Embraer said the event could affect airline schedules but that there was no impact on flight safety. It said the global E2 fleet has navigation systems and procedures for operating during GPS instability.

Honeywell Aerospace said it was aware of a problem with the reception of GPS signals by aircraft worldwide. It said its teams were actively assessing the issue to find the underlying cause.

ANAC said it was monitoring the situation with Embraer and the operators. The agency said it was checking that certification requirements were being met.

No service bulletin or airworthiness directive had been published by 23 September 2026. None came from ANAC, the US Federal Aviation Administration or the European Union Aviation Safety Agency.

Other airlines that fly the E2

More than 200 E2 jets fly with about 24 airlines around the world. Azul was by far the most affected operator.

Aviacionline listed reports involving KLM Cityhopper, Binter, Helvetic and Mexicana. Other outlets said E2 jets elsewhere kept flying normally that evening.

No operator outside Brazil publicly confirmed that its fleet had been stopped. Embraer did not publish a list of the airlines involved.

How many E2 jets were held on the ground outside Brazil is still not known. No full tally has been released.

Why this matters for expats and investors

Azul runs a large domestic network in Brazil and serves many smaller cities that other carriers do not. A short stop of its newest jets can leave travelers far from an alternative.

If you hold a ticket on an Azul E195-E2, check the flight status before leaving for the airport. ANAC rules give passengers care and rebooking when delays run long.

For investors, Azul left Chapter 11 protection on 20 February 2026 with about US$2.5 billion less debt. The company has not said what this event will cost.

One evening of cancellations is unlikely to change the year. A repeat, or a fix that takes aircraft out of service for days, would matter more.

What is still unclear

Embraer, Honeywell and ANAC have not publicly confirmed the technical cause. The US Air Force lab finding reported by AEROIN is preliminary and has not been independently verified.

There is no published timetable for a permanent fix. Azul has not said how it would handle a second stoppage.

Azul has not offered a special policy for changing tickets tied to this event. The standard ANAC passenger rules apply.

For now the jets are flying again, and the makers are expected to say more in the coming days.

More: Brazil news in English, every day from The Rio Times.

The big picture: Brazil explained — economy, politics, society and daily life in one read.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is it safe to fly on an Azul Embraer E195-E2?

Embraer said there was no impact on flight safety. It said the E2 has navigation systems and procedures that allow it to operate during GPS instability. No airworthiness directive had been issued as of 23 September 2026.

How many Azul flights were affected?

Azul said on 23 September that more than 80 flights were canceled on 22 September and over 8,000 customers were affected. Reports had counted 18 cancellations at Viracopos airport alone.

Are Azul’s E2 jets flying again?

Yes. CNN Brasil said Flightradar24 data showed Azul E2 jets operating again on 23 September 2026. It is not known whether the fault can come back.

What caused the Embraer E2 GPS fault?

The cause is unconfirmed. Early reports pointed to GPS reception by Honeywell avionics. AEROIN, citing a preliminary US Air Force lab analysis, links it to a test of the NTS-3 military satellite.

Sources: Azul and Embraer statements of 22 September 2026; Azul statement of 23 September 2026 via Panrotas and InfoMoney; AEROIN, 25 September 2026, citing the US Air Force Research Laboratory; A Tarde; Honeywell Aerospace; ANAC via Panrotas; Aviacionline; Airway; Aeroin; Air Data News; CNN Brasil; Acidade ON; O Tempo; Gazeta do Povo; Azul S.A. Form 6-K, 20 February 2026.