Near the border of the Russian Federation, a Royal Air Force aircraft of the United Kingdom, carrying Defense Minister John Healey, was subjected to an electronic attack. The incident occurred during the delegation’s return to London after visiting British troops stationed in Estonia.
This is reported by Finway
Details of the incident: communication disruptions and system failures
For nearly three hours of flight, the satellite signal on the government aircraft was blocked, making it impossible to use GPS and connect to the internet from phones and laptops. The crew had to rely on backup navigation systems, as the primary instruments were unavailable due to interference. Some elements of the dashboard in the Dassault Falcon 900LX cockpit — the same one occasionally used by King Charles III — also malfunctioned.
The event took place on May 21, when John Healey was returning with political and military advisors. The disruptions began early in the flight, and restoring system functionality in the air was not possible, as it required a complete reboot of all onboard devices.
Escalation of tensions between the United Kingdom and Russia
“This incident is yet another example of the dangerous and unacceptable behavior of Russian pilots towards an unarmed aircraft operating in international airspace. These actions pose a serious risk of accidents and potential escalation of conflict.”
The electronic attack occurred the day after Russian Su-35 fighters flew past a British reconnaissance aircraft, RAF Rivet Joint, at an extremely close distance of just six meters over the Black Sea. This encounter became one of the most dangerous situations between the air forces of both countries in recent times: Russian pilots executed six dangerous approaches, during which the autopilot of the British aircraft disengaged and emergency procedures were activated. Experts note that any mistake could have led to fatal consequences for the crew of both sides.
According to a representative of the British Ministry of Defense, the Royal Air Force is adequately trained to respond to such incidents. However, there is growing concern in the defense sector regarding the intensification of Russian activities in the region, particularly monitoring undersea communication cables around the British Isles and an increase in interceptions involving French and British fighters. It has also been reported that in 2024, Moscow had already blocked GPS on a flight with former Defense Minister Grant Shapps on board.
Incidents involving the aggressive behavior of Russian military aircraft pose additional threats to security in international airspace and highlight the need for enhanced security measures for government flights.