An RAF aircraft carrying UK Defence Secretary John Healey had its GPS signal jammed for the entirety of a three-hour flight back to Britain after passing near the Russian border on Thursday. Healey had been visiting British soldiers in Estonia — a small Baltic nation that shares a border with Russia and is a NATO member — when the incident occurred. Russia is believed to be responsible for the electronic interference, which disabled the plane's satellite navigation system and cut internet access on smartphones and laptops aboard the Dassault Falcon 900LX aircraft. Pilots switched to an alternative navigation system and passengers were assured the plane could continue to operate safely.
It remains unclear whether Healey was deliberately targeted, though the aircraft's flight path was publicly visible on aviation tracking websites. During his visit to Estonia's capital, Tallinn, Healey had met Estonian Defence Minister Hanno Pevkur to discuss long-term bilateral defence cooperation, and had spoken with UK service members taking part in a NATO military exercise near the Russian border.
The GPS jamming incident is not without precedent. In March 2024, a flight carrying then-Defence Secretary Grant Shapps experienced a similar disruption — lasting around 30 minutes — while returning to the UK from Poland. Thursday's episode, however, affected navigation for the full duration of the journey, marking a significant escalation in the pattern of interference.
The incident comes amid a broader series of provocative Russian actions against British military assets. Last month, a Russian Su-35 fighter jet flew close enough to an RAF Rivet Joint surveillance aircraft above the Black Sea to trigger its emergency systems and disable its autopilot. A Russian Su-27 also conducted six passes directly in front of the unarmed reconnaissance plane, approaching within six metres of its nose. The Ministry of Defence described it as the most dangerous Russian action against a Rivet Joint aircraft since a missile was fired near one in 2022. Rivet Joint aircraft, capable of electronic surveillance at ranges of around 150 miles, routinely conduct NATO patrols monitoring Russian military activity.
Speaking about the Black Sea confrontation, Healey praised the professionalism of the RAF crew and issued a firm warning: "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." The string of incidents underscores the growing tension between Russia and Western nations along NATO's eastern flank, as both sides maintain heightened military postures in the region.