The Italian government is urgently examining proposals to hide state aircraft flight paths from public tracking systems following a serious GPS jamming incident that targeted European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen's plane.
The alarming event occurred on Monday as von der Leyen's aircraft travelled to Riga, Latvia. Pilots were forced to rely on alternative navigation methods after experiencing severe GPS signal interference over the Baltic Sea region—an area known for frequent electronic warfare activity.
Security Breach Over Contested Skies
Flight data reveals the Commission president's aircraft encountered significant navigation disruptions while passing through airspace that has become increasingly contested. The Baltic region has witnessed a dramatic surge in GPS interference incidents, with aviation experts and security agencies predominantly attributing these activities to Russian electronic warfare units operating from Kaliningrad and mainland Russia.
An Italian government official, speaking on condition of anonymity, confirmed that Rome is now actively considering measures to prevent such sensitive travel information from being publicly accessible. "When such high-level institutional travel is publicly visible, it creates identifiable patterns and vulnerabilities," the source stated.
Growing Pattern of Electronic Interference
This incident is not isolated. Aviation authorities have reported thousands of GPS jamming cases affecting commercial and civilian aircraft in the region throughout 2025. The tactics have grown increasingly sophisticated, causing concerns among NATO members about air safety and national security.
While no group or state has claimed responsibility for the latest attack on von der Leyen's flight, security analysts note that the methods align with previously documented Russian electronic warfare capabilities designed to disrupt navigation systems.
Broader Implications for EU Security
The targeting of the EU's most senior official has sent shockwaves through European security circles. It represents a significant escalation in the covert electronic warfare being waged in European airspace and has prompted urgent discussions about enhancing protective measures for high-profile flights.
Italy's proposed solution—concealing state flight paths—would represent a major shift in aviation transparency. However, critics argue that such measures might merely address symptoms rather than the root cause of state-sponsored electronic aggression.
As European leaders continue to assess the security landscape, this incident underscores the new frontier of hybrid threats facing the continent, where electronic warfare techniques create deniable yet potent security challenges.
