British defense secretary's plane hit by GPS jamming near Russia

A Royal Air Force (RAF) aircraft transporting British Defense Secretary John Healey encountered GPS interference while flying in proximity to the Russian border. The incident, which occurred several days ago, prompted the pilots to switch to an alternative navigation system for the duration of the three-hour flight.

Healey was returning to Britain on Thursday, May 21, 2026, following a visit to British soldiers stationed in Estonia. The Times newspaper first reported the incident, with the BBC subsequently confirming the details. Russia is considered the likely source of the electronic interference, which rendered the aircraft's GPS system inoperable.

The event follows recent reports of Russian military aircraft engaging in dangerous intercepts of RAF planes over the Black Sea. While it remains unclear if Healey's flight was specifically targeted, the aircraft's flight path was reportedly visible on flight tracking websites.

During his visit to Estonia, Healey had addressed British armed forces participating in a NATO exercise near the Russian border. This incident echoes a similar event in 2024 when an RAF aircraft carrying then-Defense Secretary Grant Shapps also experienced GPS signal interference while flying near Russian territory.