A Sea Shadow Made Top European Leader’s Aircraft Blind At 35,000 Feet. Here’s What Happened

Last Updated:September 05, 2025, 12:44 IST

Aviation experts noted that if the pilots had made even a small mistake in this incident, then it would not have been possible for anyone to stop the plane from crashing

A VVIP flight carrying European Commission President Ursula von der lost GPS over Bulgaria. (Reuters File Image)

A major aviation security scare unfolded recently when the aircraft carrying European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen experienced a sudden GPS blackout while cruising at an altitude of nearly 35,000 feet over Bulgaria. The disruption, which also affected the plane’s radar system, is being viewed by officials as a possible act of hostile interference.

The incident occurred on Sunday, August 31, as the VVIP aircraft was en route and approaching Bulgarian airspace. According to reports, the Global Positioning System (GPS) and radar simultaneously stopped working, leaving the flight crew without critical navigational data. Despite the risk of disaster, the pilots managed to stabilise the flight and execute a safe landing at Plovdiv Airport.

Aviation experts noted that if the pilots had made even a small mistake in this incident, then it would not have been possible for anyone to stop the plane from crashing.

European Commission spokesperson Ariana Podesta later confirmed the mid-air disruption, stating that the GPS signal of the plane was interfered with. Bulgarian authorities have since launched a probe and are treating the matter as deliberate signal jamming. Local security sources are pointing to Moscow, calling it “blatant interference by Russia”.

How GPS Jamming Works

A senior officer associated with European air navigation systems explained how such an attack can unfold. With the use of specialised technology, aircraft GPS and radar can be disabled. “To do this, special water vessels are needed, which have special jammer devices installed. Through these jammer devices, a special noise is produced on the GPS band of the plane. This noise overpowers the real signals of the plane. Due to this noise, the receiver locks of the plane get disabled and the GPS system gets completely jammed,” the officer said.

These vessels are often referred to by various names, including the Shadow Fleet, Dark Fleet, or Grey Fleet. Initially, they were employed by smuggling ships to conceal their movements from maritime surveillance. In recent years, however, such fleets are believed to be increasingly used as instruments of geopolitical disruption.

The Dangers of Mid-Air GPS Loss

GPS is critical for modern aviation, providing real-time data on an aircraft’s position, altitude, and direction. Once disrupted, the navigation system effectively becomes blind, increasing the risk of flying off-course or misjudging altitude. Experts warn that without precise readings, the likelihood of a mid-air collision or a crash rises sharply.

“In such a situation, the pilot of the plane has to depend on inertial navigation or radio navigation, but if this also does not work, then the situation can become very serious,” an aviation analyst explained. In worst-case scenarios, pilots may be forced into an emergency landing with the help of manual maps and guidance from Air Traffic Control (ATC).

Can Such Attacks Be Prevented?

While commercial and VVIP aircraft are equipped with redundant systems designed to reduce risks, these backups can only be fully utilised by highly experienced pilots trained in counter-jamming protocols. Even then, the margin for error remains slim.

Aviation security experts argue that GPS jamming is no longer just a technical nuisance but has now become a potential weapon. With state actors suspected of using jammer-equipped fleets to interfere with navigation systems, the incident involving Ursula von der Leyen’s flight has intensified debate across Europe about the vulnerability of critical air travel routes.

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