In brief
During her flight to Bulgaria, EU Chief Ursula von der Leyen's plane encountered GPS jamming suspected to be linked to Russian interference. Although she landed safely, European officials are addressing the growing concerns over aviation safety amid increasing GPS jamming incidents since Russia's invasion of Ukraine. The EU plans to bolster its satellite capabilities to enhance detection of such disruptions.
The navigation system of a plane carrying Ursula von der Leyen was disrupted due to suspected Russian interference, the European Commission has said.
A spokesperson stated that the GPS jamming incident occurred just before the Commission president’s arrival in southern Bulgaria on Sunday, yet she still managed to land safely.
According to the spokesperson, We have received information from the Bulgarian authorities that they suspect this was due to blatant interference by Russia. The Financial Times reported that von der Leyen's plane had to use paper maps for landing at Plovdiv Airport.
The European Commission labeled such threats as a regular component of Russia's hostile actions, reinforcing their commitment to escalating defense capabilities and support for Ukraine. This incident has prompted plans to deploy additional satellites into low Earth orbit to better detect GPS interference, announced by Defence Commissioner Andrius Kubilius.
The Bulgarian government confirmed the jamming of the GPS signal on the flight, suggesting that air control services promptly offered alternative landing methods utilizing terrestrial navigation systems. Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov denied these accusations, calling the information incorrect.
Since February 2022, when Russia launched its full-scale invasion of Ukraine, Bulgarian authorities noted a marked increase in GPS incidents, particularly jamming. Tens of thousands of jamming reports have surfaced from airlines operating in the Baltic region.
Other instances of GPS disruption have also raised alarm, including a March 2024 incident involving an RAF plane, highlighting the rising trend of aviation risks associated with GPS jamming and spoofing. European foreign ministers have expressed concerns about the potential for air disasters stemming from ongoing GPS disruptions.
Despite some skepticism regarding the significance of these incidents from bodies like the UK's Civil Aviation Authority, the normalization of such GPS interference continues to pose risks to aviation safety. Experts emphasize the need for strong measures against these hostile actions, as EU discussions on addressing the threat gain momentum.
