Ursula von der Leyen’s Plane Hit by Suspected Russian GPS Jamming in Bulgaria
The navigation system of a plane carrying European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen was disrupted on Sunday in southern Bulgaria, in what officials suspect was deliberate Russian GPS jamming, according to the European Commission.
A spokesperson confirmed that the aircraft experienced “GPS interference” just before landing. Despite the disruption, the plane touched down safely.
“Bulgarian authorities have informed us that they suspect blatant interference by Russia,” the spokesperson said.
According to the Financial Times, unnamed officials claimed the pilots were forced to rely on paper maps to complete the landing at Plovdiv Airport. The Commission stressed that such threats and intimidation are part of Russia’s hostile tactics, adding that the incident only strengthens Europe’s determination to boost its defense capabilities and support for Ukraine.
The Bulgarian government confirmed that the aircraft’s satellite navigation signals had been neutralized mid-flight. In response, air traffic controllers provided alternative landing guidance using ground-based navigation tools to ensure safety.
When asked about the claims, Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov dismissed the reports as “incorrect.”
However, Bulgaria’s Air Traffic Services Authority reported a “significant increase” in GPS jamming incidents since early 2022, coinciding with Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine. Aviation safety experts have repeatedly warned that suspected Russian interference has caused widespread disruptions to civilian flights across Europe.
Cyrille Rosay, a senior cybersecurity expert at the European Union Aviation Safety Agency (EASA), told the BBC that such cases have escalated sharply since the war began.
Moscow has consistently denied scrambling satellite-based navigation systems, which are vital for determining aircraft location and flight safety.
Von der Leyen’s visit to Bulgaria was part of her wider tour of Eastern EU states, focusing on strengthening defense readiness and confronting Russian threats. A Commission spokesperson said the President has “witnessed firsthand the daily dangers posed by Russia and its proxies” during the trip.