Luxembourg’s national airline, Luxair, has stressed the safety of its new fleet after one of its recently delivered Embraer E195-E2 aircraft was forced to return to Findel Airport shortly after departure.
The incident occurred on Monday morning on a scheduled flight to Milan. A Luxair spokesperson confirmed the aircraft turned back after only a few kilometres in the air, but did not specify the reason for the diversion.
Passengers bound for Milan experienced a significant delay. Their aircraft, a new Embraer E195-E2 delivered to Luxair in November and entering service in early 2026, turned around near Metz and flew back to Luxembourg. The 37 affected passengers were later transported to Milan on a different aircraft.
When asked about the incident, a Luxair press spokesperson stated that the airline does not comment on every such event but noted that diversions are not solely due to technical faults. While challenged that this involved their newest model, the spokesperson declined to elaborate or confirm whether the cause was technical. The airline reiterated its confidence in the safety of the E195-E2 fleet.
Luxair issued a further statement on Monday evening defending its new Embraer E195-E2 fleet, arguing that recent media reports questioning the aircraft’s purchase lacked important context.
The airline clarified that temporary operational restrictions mentioned in reports relate to international measures affecting the Pratt & Whitney GTF engines under very specific weather conditions – not to what it called “a poor decision regarding the fleet.” Luxair emphasised that the E195-E2 is subject to fewer restrictions than comparable aircraft and is operated in full coordination with manufacturers and aviation authorities.
According to the carrier, the aircraft remains “safe and reliable.” Monday’s return flight was described as a precautionary measure, not the result of a technical incident. Luxair underscored that the E195-E2 is central to its long-term strategy to modernise its fleet, reduce emissions, and enhance the passenger experience.
In a separate communication, Luxair stressed that precautionary safety measures – such as returning to the departure airport or aborting a landing – are routine in modern aviation. The airline stated such actions are taken based on technical or operational indications and do not endanger passengers or crew.
Luxair explained, such decisions are not specific to any aircraft type and do not reflect structural problems. Rather, they result from advanced safety systems and a deliberately cautious operational culture. “Every decision serves a single goal: absolute safety on board,” the airline stated.
Further statements were later made on RTL Radio:
In response to speculation following the unexpected return of one of its new Embraer jets, Luxair CEO Gilles Feith has publicly defended the aircraft, calling it “not a bad choice.”
The remarks came during an interview on RTL Radio on Tuesday morning. Feith sought to reassure the public, stating the airline is “very relaxed about it” and that the aircraft remains a sound part of its fleet.
The CEO explained that a range of aircraft models, including certain Airbus jets and the Embraer E2, are restricted from taking off in specific, extreme weather conditions – such as freezing fog with visibility below 100 metres. However, he clarified that this was not the cause of Monday’s incident, which was triggered by a technical warning.
Feith emphasised that the crew could have continued the flight safely, but that Luxair applies heightened caution with new aircraft. He described the decision to return as an “absolutely standard procedure” in aviation, one that occurs frequently across the industry and not solely at Luxair.
The statements follow another incident last week involving a Luxair flight bound for Malaga.
