A plane transporting European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen encountered GPS jamming as it approached Plovdiv, Bulgaria, on Sunday, prompting allegations from Brussels that Russia might be responsible. The European Commission revealed on Monday that Bulgarian authorities had indicated this disruption appeared to be a deliberate interference from Moscow, although it remains uncertain whether the flight was specifically targeted.
Commission spokeswoman Arianna Podesta confirmed that GPS jamming had indeed occurred, stating that the aircraft was able to land safely at Plovdiv International Airport without altering its flight path. Von der Leyen, who is 66 years old, was in Bulgaria as part of a broader tour of seven EU countries that are considered “frontline” states, facing heightened vulnerability to Russian hybrid threats.
The European Commission noted a pattern of jamming and spoofing activities in the region and mentioned that several companies associated with these disruptions have faced sanctions. The Bulgarian government publicly acknowledged the incident, detailing that the satellite signals guiding the plane’s GPS navigation were neutralized during the flight.
In response, Bulgarian air control services swiftly provided an alternative landing method using terrestrial navigation tools to ensure the flight’s safety. Reports from the Financial Times indicated that the aircraft resorted to utilizing paper maps for guidance as it landed successfully. This incident underscores ongoing tensions and threats faced by EU member states on the eastern edge of the bloc, highlighting the complexities of air travel and security in contemporary geopolitics.
