European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen&rsquo;s aircraft reportedly experienced GPS signal disruption while flying over Bulgarian airspace, raising concerns over possible interference linked to Russia. The incident occurred as the plane approached Plovdiv Airport during her tour of EU countries bordering Russia and Belarus.
A spokesperson confirmed, &ldquo;We can indeed confirm that there was GPS jamming. Bulgarian authorities suspect blatant interference by Russia.&rdquo; Despite the disruption, von der Leyen&rsquo;s plane landed safely, and she continued with her scheduled engagements.
&ldquo;This incident underscores the urgency of the mission the president is carrying out in frontline member states,&rdquo; the spokesperson added, highlighting how von der Leyen has observed &ldquo;firsthand the everyday challenges posed by threats from Russia and its proxies.&rdquo;
The European Commission emphasized that the EU will enhance its focus on defense readiness and investments in response to growing electronic and hybrid threats.
GPS jamming and spoofing incidents have surged since Russia&rsquo;s full-scale invasion of Ukraine in 2022, particularly affecting the Baltic Sea region. Authorities in Estonia report that 85% of flights in their airspace now face disruptions, as faulty GPS coordinates are increasingly transmitted intentionally.
Experts warn that such electronic interference can affect air and maritime communications, posing significant risks to both civilian and strategic operations. The EU continues to monitor these developments closely, reinforcing security measures and coordination among member states.

Bulgaria reports GPS disruption on EU chief’s flight, suspected Russian interference

Von der Leyen Plane Hit by GPS Jamming

Bulgaria reports GPS disruption on EU chief’s flight, suspected Russian interference

September 1, 2025 | 17:11 IST