The aircraft carrying European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen experienced significant GPS jamming over Bulgarian airspace on August 31, 2025, forcing a manual landing at Plovdiv Airport. The incident, which occurred as the President was on a tour of EU member states bordering Russia and Belarus, has been attributed by Bulgarian authorities to Russian interference.
Arianna Podestà, a spokesperson for the European Commission, confirmed the GPS jamming, stating, "We can indeed confirm that there was GPS jamming." The disruption to the flight, which was en route from Warsaw to Plovdiv, necessitated the pilot to circle the airport for nearly an hour before executing a manual landing using paper maps, as the GPS signal essential for navigation was lost.
This event aligns with a broader pattern of escalating GPS disruptions observed across Eastern Europe since early 2022, with numerous reports attributing these incidents to Russia's actions. The European Union has expressed deep concern over these repeated disruptions, viewing them as a tangible manifestation of heightened geopolitical tensions and a direct threat to civilian air traffic safety. The Kremlin consistently denies any involvement in these GPS jamming incidents.
President von der Leyen's visit aimed to reinforce solidarity and bolster defense capabilities within frontline EU nations. The disruption to her flight serves as a stark illustration of the vulnerabilities in modern navigation systems and the potential impact of electronic warfare tactics. The European Union Aviation Safety Agency (EASA) and the International Air Transport Association (IATA) have acknowledged these events as a significant challenge, emphasizing the need for enhanced information sharing, the retention of traditional navigation aids, and updated guidance for aircraft manufacturers and operators.
The incident underscores the critical importance of resilient navigation systems and coordinated responses. A joint letter from thirteen EU member states highlighted that the interference is perceived not as isolated occurrences but as a systematic, deliberate action that can be employed as a hybrid attack. This situation calls for a unified European response, including increased diplomatic pressure, potential legal action, and the acceleration of interference-resistant navigation services, such as those offered by the Galileo program.