— The European Commission says Bulgarian authorities suspect Russian interference after a charter aircraft carrying Commission President Ursula von der Leyen lost satellite navigation while approaching Plovdiv on , forcing the flight to hold for about an hour before landing safely.
Key Takeaways
- The European Commission confirmed von der Leyen’s plane experienced a loss of satellite navigation on approach to Plovdiv, Bulgaria.
- Bulgarian authorities suspect Russian jamming was the cause, according to a Commission deputy spokesperson.
- The aircraft reportedly circled for roughly one hour before landing; no injuries or damage were reported.
- It remains unclear whether von der Leyen’s flight was deliberately targeted.
- Major airports can revert to radio navigation and other procedures when GPS/GNSS is degraded.
- EU officials say sanctions were imposed on companies involved in GPS disruption and an aviation-specific counter-jamming plan is in development.
- GPS interference has surged near Russia since 2022; in March 2024, a UK government flight carrying Grant Shapps faced jamming near Kaliningrad.
- Thirteen EU states warned in June of growing jamming/spoofing threats; Poland and Lithuania reported sharp case increases in January 2025.
Verified Facts
The European Commission confirmed that President Ursula von der Leyen’s chartered aircraft lost satellite-based navigation aids while arriving at Plovdiv, Bulgaria, on Sunday. The crew entered a holding pattern for approximately one hour before executing a safe landing. No passengers or crew were harmed.
Deputy spokesperson Arianna Podestà said Bulgarian authorities suspect “blatant interference” originating from Russia. Asked whether the Commission president was specifically targeted, she indicated that determination should come from Russian authorities, underscoring that targeting has not been established.
The Financial Times first reported the holding pattern over Plovdiv. Aviation experts note that when GPS/GNSS is unreliable, crews use established alternatives such as instrument landing systems (ILS) and radio beacons, which remain dependable for approach and landing.
The incident occurred during von der Leyen’s four-day visit to seven EU member states on the bloc’s eastern frontier. Speaking in Vilnius on Monday, she emphasized that Lithuania and the region face “constant military and hybrid threats,” and the Commission reiterated its commitment to strengthening European defence and supporting Ukraine.
Context & Impact
Electronic interference with satellite navigation has increased since Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine in 2022, with a marked escalation over the past year. A May 2025 internal EU document, cited by officials, characterizes jamming and spoofing as systemic, deliberate actions attributed to Russia and Belarus. The document warns that causing operational disruption can be “simple and cheap” without proportional countermeasures.
In June, 13 EU member states raised alarms over jamming and spoofing affecting air and sea travel. Reported incidents include 2,732 electronic interference cases in Poland in January 2025 (up from 1,908 in October 2023) and 1,185 in Lithuania the same month (up from 556 in March 2024). In March 2024, a UK Royal Air Force aircraft carrying then–Defence Secretary Grant Shapps experienced about 30 minutes of GPS interference near Kaliningrad.
EU officials say the bloc has sanctioned several companies linked to GPS disruption emanating from Russia and is preparing an aviation-specific resilience plan alongside broader counter-jamming strategies. These steps aim to limit operational risk to civil aviation and critical logistics in Europe’s eastern airspace.
Separately, the regional security climate remains tense. Ukrainian authorities accuse Russia of involvement in the shooting of Andriy Parubiy, a former parliamentary speaker, in Lviv on Saturday; a suspect was arrested within 36 hours. With ceasefire prospects dim after last month’s Putin–Trump summit yielded no tangible progress, European leaders are set to meet in Paris on Thursday, as partners discuss security guarantees for Kyiv and the scope of a “coalition of the willing.”
Recent interference data points
| Location/Case | Date | Detail |
|---|---|---|
| Plovdiv, Bulgaria (von der Leyen flight) | 31 Aug 2025 | Loss of satellite navigation; approx. 1-hour holding; safe landing |
| RAF flight near Kaliningrad (UK) | Mar 2024 | ~30 minutes GPS interference; no injuries |
| Poland (national reporting) | Jan 2025 | 2,732 interference cases |
| Lithuania (national reporting) | Jan 2025 | 1,185 interference cases |
Official Statements
Bulgarian authorities suspect blatant interference by Russia behind the satellite navigation disruption.
European Commission deputy spokesperson Arianna Podestà
The killer posed as a courier, opened fire eight times, and was detained within 36 hours; we see Russian involvement.
Ivan Vyhivskyi, Head of Ukraine’s National Police
Lithuania faces constant military and hybrid threats; Europe must respond with resilience.
Ursula von der Leyen
Unconfirmed
- Whether von der Leyen’s aircraft was deliberately targeted has not been established.
- Specific entities sanctioned for GPS disruption were not identified in public statements.
- Details of the forthcoming EU aviation counter-jamming plan have not been published.
- Ukrainian allegations of Russian involvement in the Parubiy killing are under investigation.
Bottom Line
The suspected GPS jamming that delayed von der Leyen’s flight underscores a growing pattern of electronic interference across Europe’s eastern airspace. While aviation safety systems handled the disruption, EU officials are accelerating sanctions and resilience measures as military and hybrid pressures intensify.
Expect near-term policy moves on aviation-specific countermeasures, closer coordination with carriers and air navigation services, and ongoing diplomatic pressure as European leaders meet this week to bolster support for Ukraine.