A plane carrying European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen was struck by suspected Russian GPS jamming as it prepared to land in southern Bulgaria on August 31, 2025.
The Dassault Falcon 900LX (registration OO-GPE), operated by Luxaviation Belgium, was completing flight AAB53G from Warsaw when its satellite navigation system failed during the final approach to Plovdiv Airport.
A Commission spokesperson said:
“We have received information from the Bulgarian authorities that they suspect this was due to blatant interference by Russia.”
Despite the disruption, the crew successfully landed the aircraft using manual navigation procedures and ground-based assistance.
Commission Condemns “Hostile Actions”
The European Commission denounced the interference as part of a broader pattern of Russian aggression.
“Threats and intimidation are a regular component of Russia’s hostile actions,” the Commission said, adding that the event reinforced its determination to ramp up Europe’s defense capabilities and support for Ukraine.
Bulgarian officials confirmed the aircraft’s GPS signal was neutralized, forcing air traffic controllers to activate an emergency terrestrial navigation protocol to ensure a safe landing.
Kremlin Rejects Allegations
The Financial Times, citing senior officials, reported that the Falcon had to rely on paper maps and manual procedures after holding in the air for nearly an hour.
However, Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov dismissed the claims, insisting Russia had no role in the disruption.
Bulgaria’s Air Traffic Services Authority noted a “notable increase in navigation jamming since January 2022,” coinciding with Russia’s intensification of electronic warfare operations.
Growing Concern Over GNSS Disruptions
Experts warn that GPS interference is no longer an isolated risk but a strategic tool of hybrid warfare. Thousands of civilian and military flights have reported disruptions across Europe’s eastern flank since the outbreak of Russia’s full-scale war in Ukraine.
Cyrille Rosay, senior cybersecurity expert at the European Union Aviation Safety Agency (EASA), told the BBC that jamming incidents have escalated sharply since 2022.
The EASA has identified four major hotspots of interference:
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The Baltic Sea
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Eastern Finland
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The Black Sea
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The Eastern Mediterranean
Past incidents include:
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April–May 2024: Finnair suspended services to Tartu, Estonia, due to repeated jamming.
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March 2024: A UK Royal Air Force Falcon 900LX carrying Defence Minister Grant Shapps was jammed near Kaliningrad.
Von der Leyen’s Tour of Eastern Europe
Von der Leyen’s Bulgaria stop formed part of her Eastern European security tour, which also included Latvia, Finland, Estonia, Poland, and Lithuania.
In Plovdiv, she visited a munitions plant producing ammunition for Ukraine, praising Bulgaria’s growing role in the European defense industrial base.
A Commission spokesperson said the incident had shown her “first-hand the everyday threats from Russia and its proxies.”
