Von der Leyen’s plane hit by suspected Russian GPS Jamming in Bulgaria, landed Safely

The EU confirmed that Ursula von der Leyen’s plane experienced GPS jamming while flying to Bulgaria, with officials suspecting Russian interference, though the aircraft landed safely. Bulgarian authorities reported that GPS signals were neutralised and that air traffic control provided alternative landing guidance using terrestrial navigation tools.

The EU spokesperson described the incident as blatant interference, and the European Commission said threats and intimidation are a regular component of Russia’s hostile actions. According to Reuters, the jet lost GPS near Plovdiv and had to land after circling for around an hour. The article notes a surge in GPS jamming and spoofing in the region since 2022, and that the EU plans to deploy more low Earth orbit satellites to detect such disruptions. Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov dismissed the report, telling FT that “your information is incorrect.”