Image Credentials: Image Title: Von der Leyen’s Jet Forced to Land Without GPS Amid Suspected Russian Interference Source: (Sora.ChatGpt) Date: August 2025. Attribution: Created by AI-generated imagery ( Sora.ChatGpt), it does not depict a real-world scene.
By Staff Writer | Open Chronicle with Agencies
A dramatic aviation incident has raised concerns over air safety in Eastern Europe. The jet carrying European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen was forced to make a manual landing in Bulgaria after losing GPS navigation, in what officials suspect was the result of Russian interference, the Financial Times reported Monday.
The aircraft, en route from Warsaw to the Bulgarian city of Plovdiv on Sunday, lost access to satellite-based navigation systems during its approach to the airport. According to officials, “the entire GPS around the airport went dark,” forcing the crew to circle for nearly an hour before landing with the aid of paper maps.
Bulgarian Air Traffic Control confirmed the incident, describing it as part of a broader trend of signal disruptions and spoofing in the region. “Since February 2022, there has been a notable increase in interference and, more recently, GPS spoofing,” the authority said. “These disruptions prevent accurate signal reception and pose serious operational challenges for both aircraft and ground systems.”
Von der Leyen was traveling to Plovdiv to meet Bulgarian Prime Minister Rosen Zhelyazkov and visit an ammunition factory, reflecting Bulgaria’s role as a major supplier of military equipment to Ukraine. Despite the disruption, she departed safely from the same airport later that day without further incident.
The episode comes amid heightened geopolitical tensions as the EU seeks to bolster its defense preparedness in response to Russia’s ongoing war in Ukraine. Speaking to journalists upon arrival, von der Leyen warned of the Kremlin’s unchanging posture. “President Putin has not changed and will not change. He is a predator. He can only be stopped through strong deterrence,” she said.
While investigations continue, the alleged GPS interference highlights growing vulnerabilities in European airspace at a time of escalating confrontation between Moscow and Brussels.