A plane carrying European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen experienced GPS signal jamming while preparing to land in Bulgaria, with authorities suspecting Russian involvement, the European Commission confirmed on Monday.
The incident occurred on Sunday as von der Leyen’s chartered flight approached Plovdiv International Airport. Despite the disruption, the aircraft landed safely using alternative navigation methods.
Commission spokesperson Arianna Podesta told reporters: “We can indeed confirm that there was GPS jamming.” She added that Bulgarian authorities believe Moscow was behind the interference, although it is not yet clear whether von der Leyen’s plane was specifically targeted.
Von der Leyen, 66, was in Bulgaria as part of a tour of seven EU countries located on the bloc’s eastern flank, where concerns over Russian hybrid threats remain high. The region has seen repeated cases of GPS jamming and spoofing in recent years.
The Bulgarian government also confirmed the incident, stating: “During the flight carrying European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen to Plovdiv, the satellite signal transmitting information to the plane’s GPS navigation system was neutralised. Air control services immediately offered an alternative landing method using terrestrial navigation tools.”
Reports suggested the pilots relied on paper maps to complete the landing.
The European Commission described von der Leyen’s visit as a gesture of solidarity with frontline EU states facing Russian pressure. Podesta added: “Threats and intimidation are a regular part of Russia’s hostile behaviour. This will only strengthen our commitment to enhancing defence capabilities and supporting Ukraine.”
The incident comes as Western allies continue discussions on how best to guarantee Ukraine’s long-term security amid the ongoing war.
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