Russia Jammed GPS on a Plane Carrying UK Defense Chief for Three Hours, Reporters Say

A British military aircraft carrying UK Defense Secretary John Healey was reportedly hit by electronic interference during a flight from Estonia to the United Kingdom, with GPS disabled for the entire three-hour journey, The Telegraph reported on May 24.

The RAF Dassault Falcon 900LX was flying near Russia’s border on May 21 when its GPS signal was fully lost. Passengers’ smartphones and laptops also reportedly lost internet connection during the flight.

The pilots switched to backup navigation systems, and the aircraft continued its journey safely.

Passengers on board, including photographers and a journalist, were told the aircraft could continue without danger. The flight route was visible on public aviation tracking websites, though it remains unclear whether Healey himself was deliberately targeted.

“This was reckless interference by Russia, but the RAF is well prepared for this activity,” a defense source told The Telegraph.

The reported incident came only days after the UK Ministry of Defence disclosed a dangerous encounter over the Black Sea involving an RAF Rivet Joint surveillance aircraft.

In that earlier incident, a Russian Su-35 flew close enough to trigger emergency systems on the British aircraft and disable its autopilot. A separate Russian Su-27 then made six passes in front of the Rivet Joint, at one point coming within just six meters of its nose.

The UK Ministry of Defence described that episode as Russia’s most dangerous action against a British aircraft since 2022, when a Russian jet fired a missile near an RAF Rivet Joint over the Black Sea.

Earlier, Romanian Foreign Minister Oana Țoiu said that Romania expects the number and intensity of Russian hybrid attacks against NATO to increase, especially in allied airspace.

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