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' happened while the Commission president was about to arrive in southern Bulgaria, but she still landed safely. They added: 'We have received information from the Bulgarian authorities that they suspect that this was due to blatant interference by Russia.'
According to reports, von der Leyen's plane had to land at Plovdiv Airport with the pilots relying on paper maps due to the interference.
The European Commission emphasized that 'threats and intimidation are a regular component of Russia's hostile actions' and affirmed its commitment to enhance defense capabilities supporting Ukraine. In response to this incident, the EU plans to deploy additional satellites to improve its capacity to detect GPS interference.
The Bulgarian government confirmed that the satellite signal providing GPS navigation was neutralized during the flight, leading air traffic services to offer alternative landing methods using terrestrial navigation tools.
Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov disputed these claims, labeling the information as 'incorrect.' Meanwhile, GPS incidents, including jamming, have reportedly increased notably since February 2022, and experts warn that if GPS disruptions continue, the risk of air disasters could be significant.
Despite some authorities downplaying the risks, the prevalence of GPS jamming remains a serious concern, especially around conflict zones and near Russian territory. This event has further reinforced concerns over the safety of air travel and the ongoing Kremlin strategy to sow disorder and undermine European security.
A spokesperson stated that the 'GPS jamming' happened while the Commission president was about to arrive in southern Bulgaria, but she still landed safely. They added: 'We have received information from the Bulgarian authorities that they suspect that this was due to blatant interference by Russia.'
According to reports, von der Leyen's plane had to land at Plovdiv Airport with the pilots relying on paper maps due to the interference.
The European Commission emphasized that 'threats and intimidation are a regular component of Russia's hostile actions' and affirmed its commitment to enhance defense capabilities supporting Ukraine. In response to this incident, the EU plans to deploy additional satellites to improve its capacity to detect GPS interference.
The Bulgarian government confirmed that the satellite signal providing GPS navigation was neutralized during the flight, leading air traffic services to offer alternative landing methods using terrestrial navigation tools.
Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov disputed these claims, labeling the information as 'incorrect.' Meanwhile, GPS incidents, including jamming, have reportedly increased notably since February 2022, and experts warn that if GPS disruptions continue, the risk of air disasters could be significant.
Despite some authorities downplaying the risks, the prevalence of GPS jamming remains a serious concern, especially around conflict zones and near Russian territory. This event has further reinforced concerns over the safety of air travel and the ongoing Kremlin strategy to sow disorder and undermine European security.
