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Bulgaria Finds No Evidence of Targeted GPS Attack on Von der Leyen’s Flight

The European Commission has walked back early suggestions of Russian responsibility after Bulgarian authorities reported routine interference and no sign of a directed operation.

Overview

  • The aircraft experienced a GPS disruption on approach to Plovdiv and landed safely after the crew navigated manually using paper charts.
  • Bulgarian Prime Minister Rosen Zhelyazkov said the disturbances recorded were weaker than initially claimed and consistent with interference common over populated areas.
  • The Interior Ministry and security services said their checks showed it was not a cyberattack targeting the flight.
  • The Commission clarified it never claimed the incident was aimed at Ursula von der Leyen and said earlier wording reflected Bulgarian communications.
  • Experts note GPS jamming and spoofing have grown more frequent across Eastern and Northern Europe, with data indicating the plane saw interference over the Baltic region the preceding day.