European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen’s plane faced a dramatic navigation failure while approaching Plovdiv Airport in Bulgaria. Officials suspect Russian GPS jamming was behind the disruption which forced pilots to rely on manual navigation and paper maps to complete the landing after circling the airport for nearly an hour.
The incident occurred as von der Leyen was traveling from Warsaw to Bulgaria to meet leaders and visit an ammunition factory. The purpose of her trip was to strengthen European Union defense cooperation and underscore the bloc’s commitment to frontline states bordering areas of heightened tension.
According to Bulgarian aviation authorities, the airport’s satellite navigation systems were disabled during the approach, confirming fears that electronic interference was deliberate. EU officials described the jamming as a blatant act of interference and a reminder of the hybrid tactics increasingly deployed in the region.
Despite the disruption, von der Leyen’s flight landed safely, but the message was clear. The EU must adapt to emerging threats that target both military and civilian systems. The Commission has pledged to intensify defense readiness, invest in resilient technologies, and work with allies to counter hostile electronic warfare tactics.
This episode not only highlighted vulnerabilities in modern aviation but also underlined the geopolitical stakes facing Europe as it navigates growing pressure from Russian influence in Eastern Europe.