European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen's aircraft was forced to execute a manual landing using analog maps after a suspected Russian interference operation disabled GPS navigation systems at a Bulgarian airport, according to the Financial Times. The attack targeted electronic navigation aids during von der Leyen's Sunday afternoon approach to Plovdiv, leaving the entire airport area without GPS functionality.
President of the European Commission Ursula von der Leyen gets out of the helicopter after inspecting the Lithuanian-Belarusian border at the Border Guard School near Lithuanian-Belarusian border, near the village Medininkai, some 25 km (16 miles) east of the capital Vilnius, Lithuania, Monday, Sept. 1, 2025. (AP Photo/Mindaugas Kulbis)Officials briefed on the incident told the Financial Times that von der Leyen's jet was stripped of electronic navigational support while approaching the city's airport in what authorities are treating as a Russian interference operation. "The whole airport area GPS went dark," one official reported to the Financial Times. The aircraft's pilot made the decision to circle the airport for an hour before executing a manual landing using paper maps, with the same official stating, "It was undeniable interference."
The Bulgarian Air Traffic Services Authority provided confirmation of the incident to the Financial Times in an official statement. "Since February 2022, there has been a notable increase in [GPS] jamming and recently spoofing occurrences," the authority stated. "These interferences disrupt the accurate reception of [GPS] signals, leading to various operational challenges for aircraft and ground systems."
Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov denied Russian involvement when contacted by the Financial Times, telling the outlet that "your information is incorrect." The European Commission has been contacted for comment regarding the incident.
GPS jamming and spoofing operations, which distort or block access to satellite-based navigation systems, were historically deployed by military and intelligence agencies to protect sensitive installations, but have increasingly been weaponized by countries like Russia to disrupt civilian operations. The techniques essentially blind aircraft by interfering with their electronic guidance systems.
European Union governments have issued warnings that the rising frequency of GPS jamming attributed to Russia creates serious risks of causing aviation disasters by disabling commercial aircraft navigation systems during flight. The interference effectively blinds pilots who depend on electronic navigation for safe flight operations.
Incidents involving GPS jamming have increased dramatically in the Baltic Sea region and eastern European nations bordering Russia in recent years, impacting aircraft, maritime vessels and civilians who rely on the navigation service for daily activities. The attacks have targeted both military and civilian navigation systems across the region.
Von der Leyen was traveling from Warsaw to the central Bulgarian city to conduct meetings with the country's Prime Minister Rosen Zhelyazkov and tour an ammunition production facility. The visit was part of her official itinerary to examine defense manufacturing capabilities in the region.
The European Commission president was conducting a tour of the European Union's frontline states to examine efforts aimed at improving the bloc's defense preparedness in response to Russia's ongoing war against Ukraine. The tour included visits to multiple countries along the EU's eastern border with Russia.
"[Russian president Vladimir] Putin has not changed, and he will not change," von der Leyen stated to reporters while on the ground in Bulgaria Sunday, according to the Financial Times. "He is a predator. He can only be kept in check through strong deterrence."
Bulgaria has emerged as one of Europe's most significant suppliers of military equipment to Ukraine, initially providing legacy Soviet-era weapons during the opening months of the conflict, and now manufacturing artillery and other defense products through the country's substantial defense industry. The nation's defense sector has become crucial to supporting Ukraine's military efforts.
Von der Leyen departed Plovdiv on the same aircraft without experiencing any additional incidents following the completion of her visit to the ammunition factory and meetings with Bulgarian officials.
