An RAF jet carrying Defence Secretary John Healey had its GPS signal jammed for the entire three-hour flight after flying near the Russian border, according to reports. The incident occurred as Healey was returning to the UK from a visit to British troops in Estonia.
Passengers, including photographers and a reporter, were told the Dassault Falcon 900LX aircraft could still operate safely, but smartphones and laptops lost internet connectivity. Pilots had to rely on alternative navigation systems due to the disabled GPS.
It remains unclear whether Healey was deliberately targeted, though the flight path was visible on aircraft tracking websites. Healey had met Estonian Defence Minister Hanno Pevkur in Tallinn to discuss long-term bilateral defence cooperation.
The Ministry of Defence (MoD) recently revealed two Russian jets had dangerously intercepted an RAF spy plane over the Black Sea last month. A Russian Su-35 flew so close to the British Rivet Joint aircraft that it triggered emergency systems and disabled the autopilot.
This is not the first such incident; in March 2024, an RAF plane carrying then-Defence Secretary Grant Shapps had its GPS jammed for 30 minutes near Russian territory. Last month, Healey disclosed that the UK tracked three Russian submarines loitering near critical undersea infrastructure in the North Atlantic.
Healey praised the RAF crew's professionalism and bravery, stating: 'Let me be very clear: this incident will not deter the UK’s commitment to defend Nato, our allies and our interests from Russian aggression.'
