Russia brought down the GPS of von der Leyen's plane: the aircraft landed using paper maps.

Ursula von der Leyen's helicopter faced interference from Russian GPS systems

According to The Sun: Officials believe that the helicopter of European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen may have fallen victim to Russian interference that led to the shutdown of GPS systems during its landing in Bulgaria.

The helicopter was forced to land using paper maps as electronic navigation systems at Plovdiv airport became unavailable.

AFP

During the flight to Plovdiv on Sunday, the helicopter lost all electronic navigation systems as it climbed towards the city airport.

This incident is being viewed as Russian interference, according to three officials who spoke to the FT.

“The entire airport area was without GPS. This was undeniable interference.”

von der Leyen's pilot circled the airport for an hour before deciding to land using old paper maps, one of the officials reported.

According to information, the GPS of Plovdiv airport may have been disabled through jamming or signal deception.

These methods distort or completely block access to satellite navigation systems, which are often used by the military to protect sensitive sites.

EU governments have warned that the increase in GPS jamming incidents attributed to Russia could lead to serious aviation disasters.

This renders commercial aircraft effectively blind during flights.

The number of GPS jamming incidents has increased significantly in recent years, particularly in the Baltic Sea and Eastern Europe, near Russia.

Aircraft, ships, and civilians using GPS devices have suffered from these interferences.

von der Leyen's visit to Bulgaria

von der Leyen was flying from Warsaw to Plovdiv to meet with the country's Prime Minister Rosen Zhelyazkov and visit an ammunition factory.

She is on a tour of EU states bordering Russia to discuss defense protocols.

von der Leyen has long been one of Putin's staunchest critics.

“Putin has not changed and will not change. He is a predator. He can only be restrained through strong deterrence.”

Bulgaria is one of the key suppliers of military equipment to Ukraine.

Its large defense sector provides significant stocks of artillery and other types of weapons.

von der Leyen departed from Plovdiv on the same aircraft without any incidents after her visit.

AFP The statement regarding the use of GPS jamming indicates a possible increase in threats to aviation in the region. Researchers and experts are calling for enhanced safety measures to protect air transport, as the situation could create serious risks not only for high-profile visits but also for commercial air travel. Importantly, amid rising tensions between Europe and Russia, ensuring flight safety remains a priority.