On September 1, 2025, European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen’s chartered jet landed in Plovdiv, Bulgaria, as part of her tour to rally Eastern European support for Ukraine. What should have been a routine visit exploded into a media frenzy, with outlets like the Financial Times, Politico, and The Guardian alleging that Russia jammed the plane’s GPS, forcing it to circle for an hour and rely on paper maps. Bulgaria’s Prime Minister Rosen Zhelyazkov, however, has since debunked these claims, stating there’s “no evidence” of prolonged interference. So, why is the Western press amplifying this narrative, and what prompted Bulgaria’s apparent U-turn on initial suspicions of Russian meddling?
A Tale of Russian Interference?
Von der Leyen’s visit to Plovdiv was a high-profile stop on her tour of “frontline states” to bolster EU support for Ukraine amid its ongoing war with Russia. Accompanied by top Brussels journalists, she toured the VMZ arms plant in Sopot, praising Bulgaria’s role as a key supplier of munitions to Kyiv. The narrative shifted dramatically when Financial Times bureau chief Henry Foy reported that the plane faced “blatant Russian interference,” losing GPS and circling for an hour before landing using outdated paper charts. This sparked a wave of coverage: Politico warned of a “GPS scare gripping Europe,” The Guardian linked it to Russian “hybrid warfare,” and NATO’s Mark Rutte vowed to counter such threats, with Italy even proposing to hide official flight routes.
The story aligned perfectly with von der Leyen’s push for €150 billion in EU defense spending to counter Russia’s aggression. It painted a vivid picture of Moscow’s reach, threatening even EU leaders in the skies. But cracks soon appeared in this dramatic account, raising questions about why the Western press ran with it so eagerly.
FlightRadar24 and Bulgaria’s Denial
FlightRadar24, a trusted flight-tracking service, provided data that contradicted the media’s claims. The jet, a chartered aircraft, showed “good GPS signal quality from take-off to landing” and touched down just nine minutes late, following a standard approach path with no hour-long circling. The European Commission itself later clarified there were no “targeted actions” against the plane, undermining the narrative of a Russian attack.
Bulgarian Prime Minister Rosen Zhelyazkov addressed parliament on September 4, 2025, stating, “After checking the plane’s records, we saw no indication of concern from the pilot. Five minutes the aircraft hovered in the waiting area, with the quality of the signal being good all the time.” He explicitly denied “prolonged interference or jamming” around Plovdiv airport. Deputy Prime Minister and Transport Minister Grozdan Karadjov further contradicted the European Commission’s claim that Bulgarian authorities suspected Russian involvement, denying any such report was sent to Brussels.
Yet, Zhelyazkov later nuanced his stance in a press conference, noting that while ground instruments detected no jamming, onboard devices might have picked up interference, possibly from GPS “spoofing”—a sophisticated tactic where false signals mislead navigation systems. This left room for speculation, though no conclusive evidence pointed to Russia. The Bulgarian Civil Aviation Authority was tasked with obtaining further flight data from the jet’s owner to clarify the incident.
Why the Media Frenzy?
The rapid spread of the Russian jamming narrative reflects deeper geopolitical currents. Western media’s amplification aligns with the EU’s broader campaign to frame Russia as an existential threat, justifying increased military aid to Ukraine and defense budgets. Von der Leyen’s tour was explicitly about rallying support for Kyiv, with Bulgaria’s arms industry—a €2.5 billion sector exporting to Ukraine—central to her message. The jamming story, whether accurate or not, reinforced the image of Russia as a reckless aggressor, bolstering calls for NATO and EU unity.
Social media platforms like X have buzzed with skepticism, with users accusing outlets of exaggerating to distract from domestic issues, such as economic strain from sanctions or energy costs. Russia’s Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova called the reports “preposterous,” arguing they serve to keep Europeans focused on an external enemy while their economies falter. This narrative fits a pattern: since 2022, over 80 GPS disruptions in European airspace have been attributed to Russia, often without hard evidence, fueling a cycle of alarmist reporting.
The media’s reliance on unverified claims from EU officials, like the European Commission’s initial assertion of Bulgarian suspicions, suggests a lack of due diligence. Outlets like the Financial Times and Politico ran the story without waiting for flight data, and many have yet to issue corrections despite FlightRadar24’s findings. This raises concerns about journalistic rigor and the risk of eroding public trust when facts later contradict headlines.
Bulgaria’s U-Turn:
Bulgaria’s shifting stance adds intrigue. Initially, Sofia appeared to align with the EU’s anti-Russia narrative, with the European Commission citing Bulgarian authorities as suspecting Kremlin interference. Zhelyazkov’s firm denial in parliament, followed by a more cautious acknowledgment of possible onboard issues, suggests a recalibration. Several factors may explain this:
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Domestic Politics: Bulgaria walks a tightrope between its NATO and EU commitments and its historical ties to Russia, a key energy supplier. Public opinion is divided, with some favoring neutrality in the Ukraine conflict. A strong anti-Russia stance could alienate voters ahead of elections.
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EU Pressure: As a recipient of significant EU funds and home to growing defense investments (e.g., Rheinmetall’s €1 billion deal), Bulgaria may have felt pressure to initially echo Brussels’ narrative before data forced a correction.
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Data-Driven Clarity: FlightRadar24’s telemetry and the lack of pilot distress signals likely compelled Sofia to clarify, avoiding embarrassment over unfounded claims.
Experts remain split. Mahmoud Elsahoury, a telecommunications engineer from the University of Vaasa, argues that high signal levels with unusual flight behavior could indicate spoofing, a state-level tactic. Conversely, FlightRadar24’s Ian Petchenik suggests internal aircraft issues or other sources could be responsible. Without conclusive data, Bulgaria’s cautious stance reflects a desire to avoid escalating tensions unnecessarily.
Hybrid Warfare or Media Overreach?
This incident highlights the fraught EU-Russia relationship, with GPS jamming increasingly framed as part of Moscow’s hybrid warfare toolkit. Since Russia’s 2022 invasion of Ukraine, reports of GPS disruptions have spiked across Eastern Europe, from Poland to the Baltics, often blamed on Russian military exercises or cyberattacks. Yet, attributing every incident to Moscow risks oversimplification, as jamming can stem from technical glitches or non-state actors.
The media’s role in amplifying unverified claims underscores a broader challenge: balancing rapid reporting with accuracy in a polarized world. The von der Leyen plane saga, with its dramatic but debunked details, may erode trust in Western outlets if corrections remain sparse. Meanwhile, the EU’s push for defense spending and NATO’s focus on countering hybrid threats gain traction, but at what cost to diplomatic nuance?
As Bulgaria awaits further flight data, the incident remains a flashpoint in the information war. Was it a genuine security scare or a convenient narrative to rally the West? Stay tuned for updates on EU-Russia tensions, GPS interference, and media accountability.
