An RAF jet carrying UK defense secretary John Healey had its GPS signal jammed for the entire duration of a three-hour flight after flying near the Russian border, according to The Guardian. The incident occurred as Healey was returning to the UK from Estonia, where he had been meeting with British military personnel and discussing long-term defense cooperation with the Estonian government.

Flight Disruption and Navigation System

The signal jamming affected smartphones and laptops on board, which were unable to connect to the internet; Pilots were forced to use an alternative navigation system as the plane’s GPS was disabled. Passengers, which included photographers and a reporter, were informed the Dassault Falcon 900LX aircraft could still operate safely; the flight’s path was visible on aircraft tracking websites, but it is unclear if Healey was deliberately targeted.

Recent Russian Air Incidents

The Ministry of Defence (MoD) recently revealed that two Russian jets had “repeatedly and dangerously” intercepted an RAF spy plane, a Rivet Joint, above the Black Sea in late April. A Russian Su-35 jet flew so close to the British reconnaissance aircraft that it triggered its emergency systems, including disabling the autopilot, but Another Russian Su-27 jet came within six meters of the Rivet Joint’s nose and carried out six passes in front of the plane. The MoD described the incident as the most dangerous Russian action against a British Rivet Joint aircraft since a missile was fired at one over the Black Sea in 2022.

Healey’s Visit and Reactions

During his visit to Estonia. Healey met with the Estonian minister of defense, Hanno Pevkur, to discuss long-term bilateral defense cooperation and strategic expansion; he also spoke to UK service members participating in a NATO military exercise near the Russian border. Healey praised the “outstanding professionalism” of the RAF crew during “unacceptable” Russian flybys — the Ministry of Defence has been contacted for comment on the GPS jamming incident.