The incident happened as her aircraft approached southern Bulgaria on Sunday. Despite the interference, the pilots managed to land safely, relying on backup navigation systems.

Bulgarian authorities confirmed that the plane’s GPS signal had been deliberately neutralized mid-flight. Air traffic controllers immediately guided the pilots to use alternative methods, including terrestrial navigation, to ensure a safe landing at Plovdiv Airport.

Officials said the disruption bore the hallmarks of Russian interference, part of what they described as ongoing hostile actions against Europe. In response, EU leaders vowed to strengthen defence systems and accelerate the deployment of satellites to detect and counter GPS manipulation.

Von der Leyen was in Bulgaria as part of a wider tour of eastern EU nations to discuss regional security and defence readiness. A spokesperson said the incident underscored the everyday threats Europe faces from Russia and its proxies.

GPS jamming has increasingly plagued flights across Eastern Europe since the outbreak of the war in Ukraine. Pilots in the Baltic region and near Russia’s exclave of Kaliningrad have reported thousands of such incidents in recent years, raising concerns about aviation safety.

Although modern aircraft are equipped with multiple navigation tools, experts warn that deliberate signal disruption can still increase risks, potentially leading to collisions or forcing planes off course.

For many officials in Europe, the episode with von der Leyen’s flight is yet another reminder of the growing challenge posed by electronic interference in the skies.

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