EU Commission Chiefs Flight Disrupted by Alleged Russian GPS Interference in Bulgaria

A plane carrying European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen experienced GPS jamming as it prepared to land in Bulgaria, an incident believed to involve Russia, according to a statement from the Commission on Monday.

The Commission noted that Bulgarian officials suspect Russia was behind the jamming that occurred on Sunday. However, it remains uncertain if the aircraft was intentionally targeted, as such occurrences are relatively frequent in the area.

«We can indeed confirm that there was GPS jamming,» said commission spokesperson Arianna Podesta during a press briefing.

The chartered flight arrived safely at Plovdiv International Airport in the country’s southern region, without needing to alter its course, she added.

Von der Leyen’s visit to Bulgaria is part of a tour encompassing seven EU nations situated on the bloc’s eastern border, which face heightened risks associated with what European officials characterize as Russian hybrid threats.

A different spokesperson for the Commission remarked that the area has witnessed «numerous instances of jamming and spoofing,» and mentioned that the EU has imposed sanctions on several entities believed to be involved in these actions.

The Bulgarian government corroborated the incident, stating in a statement that «to ensure the flight’s safety, air traffic control services quickly proposed an alternative landing procedure utilizing terrestrial navigation methods.»

The Financial Times, which was the first to report on the jamming, highlighted that the plane had to land using paper maps.

The European Commission characterized von der Leyen’s trip as a demonstration of solidarity for EU nations «confronting the challenges» of their proximity to Russia and its ally Belarus.

«Threats and intimidation are a routine part of Russia’s aggressive behavior,» Podesta remarked on Monday. «This will undoubtedly strengthen our firm commitment to enhancing defense capabilities and supporting Ukraine.»