“THREATS AND INTIMIDATIONS”
The incident was confirmed by the Bulgarian government.
“During the flight carrying European Commission president Ursula von der Leyen to Plovdiv, the satellite signal transmitting information to the plane’s GPS navigation system was neutralised,” a government statement said.
“To ensure the flight’s safety, air control services immediately offered an alternative landing method using terrestrial navigation tools,” it said.
The Financial Times newspaper, which first reported the incident, said the plane was forced to land using paper maps.
The commission described von der Leyen’s trip as a show of support for members “facing the challenges” of proximity with Russia or its ally Belarus.
“Threats and intimidations” were a “regular component of Russia’s hostile behaviour,” Podesta said.
“Of course, this will only reinforce even further our unshakable commitment to ramp up defence capabilities and support for Ukraine”.
Europe has boosted military spending and is looking to improve defence readiness following Moscow’s invasion of Ukraine.
The incident came as Western powers discuss how to guarantee Ukraine’s security in case of a truce deal in the three-and-a-half year war.
US President Donald Trump moved to restore dialogue with Russia at the start of his second presidency, but diplomatic efforts to end the war have lost momentum.
Moscow continues to stall on a potential meeting between Russian President Vladimir Putin and Ukraine’s Volodymyr Zelenskyy.
