A plane carrying European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen was forced to make an emergency landing in Bulgaria amid technical disruptions. The incident occurred after suspected malicious activity targeted navigation systems at a Bulgarian airport, impairing GPS services used by aircraft.
According to reports, the disruptions were linked to a suspected interference attack, which temporarily disabled GPS signals necessary for safe aircraft operations. The European Commission has not officially confirmed the nature of the attack but acknowledged the incident’s impact on the flight.
Ursula von der Leyen was on a scheduled flight when the technical issues arose. The aircraft made an emergency landing as a precaution, with no injuries or further incidents reported. Authorities are investigating the source of the interference and assessing potential security implications.
This event highlights ongoing concerns about the vulnerability of navigation and communication infrastructure to cyber or electronic interference, which could pose threats to safety and security for international travel. Bulgaria’s authorities and European security agencies are cooperating to determine the origins of the disruption and prevent future incidents.