Global instability in the GPS system affected Embraer's E2 line aircraft. Passengers scheduled to board Azul flights at Brasília International Airport reported queues and cancellations on Tuesday, the 22nd. On the same day, the airline confirmed that its aircraft of the mentioned line were impacted by the instability.
Regarding the cause of this interruption, cybersecurity specialist Marcelo Branquinho stated that, at this moment, no possibility can be ruled out. He observed that while failure in a few aircraft was common, the fact that all of them were affected simultaneously draws attention.
Cybersecurity Analysis
In an official statement, Embraer clarified that although the occurrence may interfere with the operational scheduling of airlines, it does not pose a risk to flight safety. For Branquinho, one of the hypotheses raised is a hacker attack. He suggested it could be malware inserted into Honeywell reading devices, like an explosive device programmed to occur on a specific date.
Another possibility pointed out by the specialist is a degradation in the GPS signal that would be specific to Honeywell readers. This indicates that the instability may have arisen due to how Honeywell Aerospace electronic components interpret signals emitted by the terrestrial GPS system.
Honeywell is responsible for developing the 'electronic black box' and the software used in the aircraft to receive and process geographical data. Simply put, the GPS provides the information, and the Honeywell equipment acts as the translator. The specialist's theory therefore points to a failure in the Honeywell equipment, possibly induced by malware, preventing the 'translator' from understanding the received 'information.'
The E2 line covers two models: E190-E2 and E195-E2, the latter being the largest commercial aircraft produced by Embraer, capable of carrying up to 146 passengers. Currently, more than 200 units of this line are in use, distributed across fleets of 24 airlines. Specifically with Azul, it is estimated that there are at least 50 E195-E2 model aircraft.
Embraer reinforced that the failure does not compromise safety, as the global E2 fleet has navigation systems and protocols that allow operation even under GPS instability. The company emphasized that its systems are capable of ensuring safe operation according to civil aviation authority requirements. Furthermore, the company declared that it had been notified about reports of GPS instability affecting certain types of aircraft, including the E2, and that it is closely monitoring the situation with operators and the equipment manufacturer. Embraer added in a note that it is providing technical support to clients and taking the necessary measures to solve the problem.
Olhar Digital contacted Embraer to verify whether the possibility of a hacker attack was considered and is being investigated, awaiting a response from the company. The original article was published in Olhar Digital.