A plane carrying European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen was reportedly affected by suspected Russian GPS jamming during a recent flight, raising new concerns over aviation safety amid rising geopolitical tensions.
The disruption occurred as von der Leyen was travelling for official duties, with flight navigation systems briefly compromised by interference believed to originate from Russian electronic warfare activities.
European officials said the plane’s crew had to rely on alternative navigation methods to ensure a safe journey. Aviation authorities have warned that such electronic interference, if confirmed, could pose serious risks to civilian and government aircraft operating in regions close to Russia.
Brussels has yet to release a formal statement directly attributing blame, but the incident comes amid heightened EU-Russia friction over the war in Ukraine and Moscow’s expanding use of cyber and electronic warfare tactics.
Security analysts described the jamming episode as a stark reminder of the vulnerabilities modern aircraft face in contested airspaces.