European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen’s plane experienced GPS disruption while approaching Plovdiv Airport in Bulgaria, with Bulgarian authorities suspecting Russian interference, though it is unclear if the aircraft was deliberately targeted. The incident occurred on September 1, 2025, BBC reported.

Pilots navigated using paper maps, and the plane landed safely. Von der Leyen continued her Eastern Europe tour without incident. The European Commission noted repeated GPS jamming in the region, prompting sanctions on some companies linked to such activities.

Von der Leyen, a vocal critic of Russian President Vladimir Putin, has consistently called for stronger support to Ukraine, according to BBC.