Russian Interference Disrupts Plane Navigation System of EU Commission President Ursula von der Leyen
In a dramatic turn of events, the navigation system of a plane carrying Ursula von der Leyen, the President of the European Commission, was disrupted due to suspected Russian interference. The European Commission confirmed that the incident occurred while von der Leyen was about to land in southern Bulgaria on Sunday, causing “GPS jamming” that forced the pilots to rely on paper maps for a safe landing.
The Bulgarian authorities have pointed fingers at Russia, alleging “blatant interference” in the navigation system of von der Leyen’s plane. Despite the disruption, von der Leyen landed safely at Plovdiv Airport, but the incident has raised concerns about Russia’s hostile actions.
According to reports from the Financial Times, the European Commission plans to bolster its defence capabilities and support for Ukraine in response to the incident. The Bulgarian government confirmed that the satellite signal transmitting information to the plane’s GPS system was neutralized during the flight, prompting air control services to utilize alternative landing methods.
Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov dismissed the reports as “incorrect,” but Bulgaria’s Air Traffic Services Authority noted a significant increase in navigation jamming incidents since January 2022. Experts have warned about Russia’s disruptions to satellite navigation systems, impacting thousands of civilian flights.
Cyrille Rosay, a senior cybersecurity expert at the European Union Aviation Safety Agency, highlighted the escalating disruptions following Russia’s invasion of Ukraine. Moscow has consistently denied tampering with satellite-based systems used for navigation.
Von der Leyen’s visit to Bulgaria was part of a tour of eastern EU states to discuss defence readiness. A Commission spokesperson emphasized that the trip showcased the ongoing threats from Russia and its proxies in the region.
