Since 2022, European airspace has been plagued by GPS interference, with over 46,000 planes reporting issues while flying over the Baltic Sea. Aviation officials believe the interference is not intentionally targeting civilian aircraft but instead stems from increased jamming activity in Kaliningrad, a Russian exclave on the Baltic coast.
GPS jamming poses various safety risks, as it can trick an aircraft’s GPS system into believing it is in a different location, altitude, or flying at a different speed. This can potentially mislead the flight crew and increase the risk of accidents.
Despite concerns, the Civil Air Authority emphasizes that GPS jamming does not directly impact aircraft navigation and that commercial planes have redundant systems to determine their location. However, the potential for inadvertent crossings into conflict zones remains a significant concern.
In 2014, Malaysia Airlines Flight 17 was shot down over Ukraine at an altitude of 6.2 miles due to GPS interference. This tragic incident prompted airlines to take greater precautions and divert around conflict zones.
As GPS interference persists, airlines and aviation authorities must remain vigilant and continue to implement measures to mitigate the risks and ensure flight safety.
