STORY: The GPS system of European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen's plane was jammed while en route Sunday (August 31) to Bulgaria, an EU spokesperson said on Monday (September 1), confirming earlier media reports.

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

According to the EU Commission, the airplane was unable to use electronic navigational aids as a result of the interference while approaching the airport at Plovdiv, Bulgaria.

EU spokesperson, Arianna Podesta, said that Bulgarian authorities suspect this "blatant interference was carried out by Russia" and added that the EU will further look into the incident.

After safely landing in Bulgaria, von der Leyen visited an arms producer in Sopot, accompanied by Prime Minister Rossen Jeliazkov, as part of a tour of countries in East European Union.

DESCRIPCIÓN DE IMÁGENES

REFILE: EU says GPS system for von der Leyen's plane was jammed, Russian interference suspected

VIDEO SHOWS: EU COMMISSION SPOKESPERSON SOUNDBITE ON EU COMMISSION PRESIDENT URSULA VON DER LEYEN'S PLANE GPS INCIDENT IN BULGARIA / VON DER LEYEN VISITING BULGARIA ON TOUR OF COUNTRIES IN EAST OF EUROPEAN UNION

EDITORS PLEASE NOTE: RESENDING WITH ADDITIONAL FOOTAGE OF VON DER LEYEN'S PLANE AT PLOVDIV AIRPORT

RESENDING WITH COMPLETE SCRIPT

SHOWS: PLOVDIV, BULGARIA (AUGUST 31, 2025) (BULGARIAN GOVERNMENT - Access all)

1. EUROPEAN COMMISSION PRESIDENT URSULA VON DER LEYEN'S PLANE ON TARMAC

2. (MUTE) VON DER LEYEN LEAVING PLANE, BEING WELCOMED BY BULGARIAN PRIME MINISTER ROSEN JELIAZKOV

3. VON DER LEYEN AND JELIAZKOV WALKING ON TARMAC

IN AIR, BULGARIA (AUGUST 31, 2025) (BULGARIAN GOVERNMENT - Access all)

4. VARIOUS OF VON DER LEYEN AND JELIAZKOV ON BOARD OF HELICOPTER

BRUSSELS, BELGIUM (SEPTEMBER 1, 2025) (EUROPEAN UNION - Access all)

5. EUROPEAN COMMISSION BUILDING EXTERIORS

6. EU FLAGS FLYING

7. (SOUNDBITE) (English) EU COMMISSION SPOKESPERSON, ARIANNA PODESTA, SAYING:

"We can indeed confirm that there was GPS jamming, but the plane landed safely in Bulgaria. We have received information from the Bulgarian authorities that they suspect that this was due to blatant interference by Russia. We are, of course, aware and used to the threats and intimidations that are a regular component of Russia's hostile behaviour. Of course, this will only reinforce even further our unshakeable commitment to ramp up defence capabilities and support for Ukraine. This incident actually underlines the urgency of the mission that the president is carrying out in the frontline member states these days. There she has seen firsthand the everyday challenges of threats coming from Russia and its proxies. And of course, the EU will continue to invest in defence spending and in Europe's readiness even more after this incident."

8. JOURNALISTS SEATED

9. (SOUNDBITE) (English) EU COMMISSION SPOKESPERSON, ARIANNA PODESTA, SAYING:

"What we can say is that the Bulgarian authorities suspect this blatant interference was carried out by Russia, and this is the information we have received from them."

10. PRESS BRIEFING ONGOING

SOPOT, BULGARIA (AUGUST 31, 2025) (EUROPEAN UNION - Access all)

11. VARIOUS OF VON DER LEYEN AND JELIAZKOV WALKING NEXT TO HELICOPTER

12. VARIOUS OF VON DER LEYEN VISITING GUNPOWDER MANUFACTURER RHEINMETALL'S PLAN

13. WORKER HANDLING AMMUNITIONS

14. VARIOUS OF VON DER LEYEN VISITING PLAN

15. WORKER HANDLING AMMUNITIONS