(New: more details)
Brussels (dpa-AFX)-Russia is on board with the suspicion of a targeted interference attack on an aircraft with EU Commission President Ursula von der Leyen. According to a spokeswoman, there was a so-called GPS jamming on Sunday on a journey of the German politician to Bulgaria. Signals from the satellite -based navigation system GPS are specifically disturbed or blocked.
The Bulgarian authorities suspect that Russia is behind the attack, as the spokeswoman said. You are now in the process of examining the case.
Airplane can land safely
For Ursula von der Leyen (66) and the other fellow travelers, the incident ended lightly. In the end, their charter aircraft was able to land safely in the city of Plowdiw.
According to the airport director, there was no danger to the occupants. Accordingly, it is usually unproblematic to fly the airport in Plowdiw without GPS. It is routine that if there are problems with the one state system, another is used, Krassimir Peschew said on state radio. In this case it was the instrument landing system (ILS). The flight and landing of the aircraft from the Leyen on board had not worried despite the incident. Peschew continued that he had followed the flight on the flight bike all the time.
Von der Leyen visited ammunition factory
After landing, the Commission President drove to a meeting with Prime Minister Rossen Scheljaskow as planned and attended the largest state armaments company. The trip was part of a tour of the Leyens in countries in the east and north of the EU lasting several days.
A possible background of the attack was mentioned in Brussels that the political discussions on the tour should be primarily about deterrent and defense initiatives against Russia. Bulgaria also plays a role as a arms supplier for the Ukrainian armed forces. According to the Leyens, a third of deliveries came from the country on the Black Sea at the beginning of the Russian attack war.
In the then communist Eastern Bloc, Bulgaria was considered Moscow of Leistter ally and there are still supporters. Before the arrival of EU Commission President of the Leyen protested supporters of Prorussian parties against their visit.
Incidents also in other countries
The spokeswoman for the EU Commission said about the GPS-Jamming that incidents like this strengthened only the determination of expanding defense skills and strengthening support for Ukraine. One is aware that threats and intimidation are a regular part of Russia’s hostile approach.
The EU Commission initially did not provide any precise information. According to a report by the “Financial Times”, the charter jet had to stay in the air for about an hour longer than planned because of the disorder. Then the pilot made the decision to land in the city of Plowdiw without GPS, it said.
The disturbance of the GPS satellite navigation by Russia is generally not new. Estonia ordered the business authority of the Russian Embassy in Tallinn last year. At that time, GPS disorders had even led to the air traffic between Finland’s capital Helsinki and Estonia’s second largest city of Tartu.