Bulgarian PM denies foreign interference in EU chief's plane incident

Bulgarian Prime Minister Rossen Jeliazkov has dismissed claims that the recent incident involving European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen’s aircraft was the result of foreign interference, clarifying that no investigation is currently underway and that the event posed no national security concerns.

Speaking to journalists on September 1, Jeliazkov addressed the incident, which occurred during the plane’s landing in Plovdiv on August 31, amid reports of frequency disruptions, Caliber.Az reports, citing foreign media.

“The recorded frequency disruptions were not the result of hybrid or cyber threats and were not directed at a specific aviation target,” the Prime Minister stated.

The incident took place during Ursula von der Leyen's official tour of member states bordering Russia and Belarus.

Russia has been accused of jamming the GPS of the airplane carrying Ursula von der Leyen during her official visit to Bulgaria on August 31.

The incident forced the plane to land at the city of Plovdiv using paper maps, rather than the conventional electronic system.

"We can confirm there was GPS jamming, but the plane landed safely in Bulgaria. We have received information from Bulgarian authorities that they suspect that this was due to blatant interference by Russia," a Commission spokesperson said.

By Vafa Guliyeva