EU chief’s plane hit by suspected Russian GPS jamming in Bulgaria

A plane carrying European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen was affected by GPS jamming while approaching Plovdiv, Bulgaria, on Sunday, reports said quoting officials on Monday.

The incident has raised security concerns across Europe, with Bulgarian authorities suspecting Russian interference.

The European Commission said the chartered aircraft experienced navigation problems as it prepared to land, though it landed safely without injury to passengers. “Bulgarian authorities believe the disruption was due to blatant interference,” a Commission spokesperson told reporters in Brussels, adding that it was not yet clear if von der Leyen’s flight was deliberately targeted.

GPS jamming, a form of electronic warfare, disrupts satellite signals used for navigation. NATO and EU member states have repeatedly accused Russia of deploying such tactics, especially in Eastern Europe and the Baltic region, where air traffic has occasionally been disrupted. Analysts warn that these operations can endanger not only political leaders but also civilian flights.

The timing of the incident is sensitive. Von der Leyen was in Bulgaria to meet Prime Minister Dimitar Glavchev for talks on regional security and energy. Relations between the EU and Moscow remain strained as Russia’s war in Ukraine grinds on, with Western officials accusing the Kremlin of expanding hybrid warfare tactics beyond the battlefield.

Reports quoting experts said the jamming episode highlights the vulnerability of European airspace.

“Even if not directly targeted, the use of electronic interference in civilian air corridors is reckless and dangerous,” said a security analyst at the European Council on Foreign Relations.

EU officials have called for a thorough investigation and coordination with NATO allies to prevent future incidents.

For now, von der Leyen has continued her schedule, but the disruption underscores how Moscow’s shadow looms large over European skies.