Archive · 5 Sep 2025
European Leader's Aircraft Blinded by GPS Jamming Over Bulgaria
Imagine a plane flying high in the sky.
Suddenly, the plane's GPS, which tells it where it is, stops working.
This happened to a plane carrying a top European leader.
The plane also lost its radar, which helps pilots see other planes and the ground.
This was because someone used special equipment to block the GPS signal.
The pilots managed to land the plane safely.
Experts think this was done on purpose, and some people suspect Russia.
This event has caused concern about the safety of air travel.
A VVIP aircraft carrying Ursula von der Leyen experienced a GPS blackout over Bulgaria.
The incident also affected the plane's radar system.
Pilots safely landed the plane at Plovdiv Airport despite the navigation issues.
Bulgarian authorities are investigating the incident as a possible act of deliberate signal jamming.
Experts warn that GPS jamming is a growing threat to aviation security.
- Who
- European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen was on board.
- What
- The aircraft's GPS and radar systems were jammed over Bulgaria.
- When
- The incident occurred on August 31.
- Where
- Over Bulgarian airspace.
- Why
- Authorities suspect deliberate signal jamming, possibly by Russia.
- Incident Date
- August 31
- Location
- Bulgaria
- Aircraft
- VVIP aircraft
- Affected
- GPS and radar systems
- Altitude
- 35,000 feet
- Involved Person
- Ursula von der Leyen