Lithuania hit by GPS interference as Ryanair flight reroutes mid-air
A Ryanair passenger plane from the United Kingdom was unable to land in Vilnius, Lithuania, due to navigation system failures and was forced to divert to Warsaw, Poland, LRT public broadcaster reported on Jan. 17.
This incident echoes concerns over Russia's electronic warfare tactics, with reports indicating that Moscow has been actively jamming GPS signals across Europe, affecting aviation safety and critical infrastructure.
Lithuania’s air navigation authority commented that the aircraft was supposed to land in Vilnius on the evening of Jan. 16 but was forced to turn back and head to Warsaw instead. After a stop in the Polish capital to check its avionics systems, the plane returned and successfully landed in Vilnius at 11:47 p.m.
Tomas Montvil, Head of Operations at Oro Navigacija, revealed that Lithuania has been experiencing frequent GPS disruptions since late 2024.
“According to our data, the aircraft registered GPS interference, and during landing, the ground proximity warning system (GPWS) was activated," Montvil explained.
"The crew decided to reroute to Warsaw as a precaution. After checking their avionics there, they safely returned to Vilnius.”
He also noted that GPS interference can stem from various sources, including deliberate actions by foreign governments.
Europe's security under siege amid Russian interference?
In November 2024, Reuters reported that Russia was jamming satellite navigation signals, affecting airport operations in Finland.
Bloomberg also stated that Kaliningrad, a Russian exclave bordering Poland and Lithuania, is being used as a base for GPS interference across the EU.
On Jan. 10, 2025, German Foreign Minister Annalena Baerbock accused Russia of threatening European security by damaging cables, conducting disinformation campaigns, and orchestrating GPS disruptions.
On Jan. 15, Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk claimed that Russia was planning airborne terror operations against Poland and international airlines. Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov dismissed these allegations as “completely unfounded.”
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