EU Commission President's Plane Experiences Suspected Russian GPS Jamming Over Bulgaria

European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen's aircraft experienced GPS signal disruption while approaching Plovdiv, Bulgaria, on Sunday. Bulgarian authorities suspect Russian interference as the cause. The plane landed safely using alternative navigation methods.

An EU spokesperson confirmed the incident, stating, "We have received information from Bulgarian authorities that they suspect this blatant interference was carried out by Russia." The spokesperson emphasized that such actions would reinforce the EU's commitment to enhancing defense capabilities and supporting Ukraine.

The Bulgarian government reported that the satellite signal used for the aircraft's GPS navigation was disrupted as the plane approached Plovdiv Airport. Air traffic controllers provided alternative landing methods using terrestrial navigation tools to ensure a safe landing.

This incident occurred during von der Leyen's tour of EU member states bordering Russia and Belarus, aimed at assessing regional security concerns. The EU has previously expressed concerns over increasing GPS jamming and spoofing incidents in Eastern Europe, attributing them to deliberate actions by Russia and Belarus.