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European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen landed safely on Sunday despite a GPS blackout at Plovdiv airport that officials are treating as a suspected Russian interference operation. The airport’s navigation systems went dark, forcing the pilot to rely on paper charts and manual procedures for the landing, according to an article in the Financial Times.
“The whole airport area GPS went dark,” said one official briefed on the incident. The plane circled for about an hour before the pilot opted for a manual landing using analog maps. “It was undeniable interference,” the official added.
The Bulgarian Air Traffic Services Authority confirmed the incident, noting a marked increase in GPS jamming and “spoofing” since February 2022. These techniques, which distort or block satellite navigation signals, were once primarily military tools but are increasingly affecting civilian aviation, shipping, and everyday navigation.
Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov dismissed the claims, calling them “incorrect.” The European Commission has also been approached for comment.
EU officials have warned that GPS interference, often attributed to Russia, could create serious hazards for commercial flights, ships, and other critical systems reliant on satellite navigation. Similar disruptions have been reported across the Baltic Sea region and Eastern Europe.
Von der Leyen was visiting Plovdiv to meet Prime Minister Rosen Zhelyazkov and tour a local ammunition factory. Her trip is part of a broader tour of the EU’s frontline states aimed at strengthening defense readiness amid Russia’s war in Ukraine.
“Putin has not changed, and he will not change,” von der Leyen told reporters on the ground. “He is a predator. He can only be kept in check through strong deterrence.”
Bulgaria has played a key role supplying military equipment to Ukraine, from legacy Soviet-era weapons at the start of the conflict to modern artillery and other defense products.
After completing her visit, von der Leyen departed Plovdiv on the same plane without further incident.
*Source: Financial Times
