Ryanair flight forced to ABORT landing after strange 'GPS interference issue' near Nato's border with Russia
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A Ryanair flight from London Luton to Vilnius was forced to divert to Warsaw after experiencing GPS signal interference during its landing approach near Nato's eastern border.
The incident, which occurred on Thursday, has heightened concerns about increasing GPS disruption in the region, particularly near Russian borders.
The Boeing 737 MAX 8-200 aircraft was rerouted approximately 400km to Warsaw, Poland, after encountering navigation issues during its descent into the Lithuanian capital.
The diversion comes amid growing reports of GPS interference in eastern Europe, which has been linked to Russian military activity.
A Ryanair flight from London Luton to Vilnius was forced to divert to Warsaw after experiencing GPS signal interference
PAThe aircraft was descending to around 850 feet when the pilot was forced to abort the landing due to GPS interference.
Lithuanian air navigation officials confirmed that while the affected Ryanair flight experienced navigation problems, other aircraft continued to land at Vilnius Airport without issue.
"All other planes were landing at the airport as usual," a spokesperson said.
Lithuania's Defence Ministry has launched an investigation to determine the cause of the disruption.
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The incident reflects a broader pattern of GPS disruption in the region, with Lithuania documenting over 800 cases in the final months of 2024.
This marks a significant increase from the 124 incidents reported during the same period in the previous year.
The European Union Aviation Safety Agency (EASA) has reported that GPS interference incidents in the region now number "several thousand" annually.
The impact has been severe enough to force Tartu Airport in Estonia to suspend all flights for a month after two Finnair flights were redirected to Helsinki.
Eastern Finnish airports have responded by reintroducing traditional radio navigation equipment.
Experts have identified a Russian military system known as Tobol, believed to be stationed in Kaliningrad, as a potential source of the interference.
The sophisticated technology is suspected of broadcasting false GPS data, which could cause aircraft to make unnecessary manoeuvres to avoid non-existent obstacles.
Military analysts suggest these Tobol devices are specifically designed to disrupt satellite signals.
GPS signal disruptions have notably intensified since Russia's invasion of Ukraine in February 2022
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The system reportedly creates an "invisible shield" intended to protect Russian military assets from satellite-guided weapons.
The technology's presence near Nato's eastern borders has raised significant concerns about aviation safety in the region.
Russia has denied allegations of deliberate GPS jamming, though concerns persist about its activities near NATO borders.
The disruptions have had a significant impact on regional aviation, with airports across eastern Europe implementing countermeasures.
GPS signal disruptions have notably intensified since Russia's invasion of Ukraine in February 2022.
The Baltic region, along with the Black Sea and eastern Mediterranean, continues to experience increased interference attributed to Russian military activity.
These incidents have prompted airports to adapt their operations, with some facilities returning to traditional navigation methods to ensure flight safety.
Ryanair has been contacted for comment regarding the latest incident.
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