Aircraft Carrying EU Commission President Experiences Suspected Russian GPS Jamming Over Bulgaria

European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen's aircraft experienced deliberate GPS navigation interference while approaching Plovdiv Airport in Bulgaria, forcing the pilots to rely on paper maps and manually land after circling for about an hour. The European Commission, supported by information from Bulgarian authorities, suspects the interference was caused by Russia, a claim denied by the Kremlin. This incident highlights the growing threat of GPS jamming—initially a military tactic—that now endangers civilian aviation safety in Eastern Europe, especially amid the ongoing conflict involving Russia and Ukraine. EU officials emphasize that such hostile actions only reinforce their commitment to strengthening defense capabilities and increasing support for Ukraine. Von der Leyen was on a regional visit to Eastern European countries to discuss European security and defense issues when the incident occurred. The event has raised alarm among European governments and experts, calling for increased vigilance and adaptation in aviation to counteract evolving threats to satellite-based navigation systems.