Why your plane’s GPS might be sabotaged (but don’t be scared)
We explain what plane jamming is and the impact it's having.
GPS interference or GPS ‘jamming’ is getting more common. It’s when radio signals on the same frequencies as GPS satellites are used to overwhelm and block legitimate navigation signals. It’s led to pilots having to make emergency landings or switch to older non-GPS systems. The issue has become so prevalent that the European Union Aviation Safety Agency (EASA) held a conference on it last year. Several European governments also believe it is intentional interference by Russia. Âé¶¹Éç journalist Emilia Jansson explains GPS jamming in detail and how it is affecting the aviation industry.
Plus we hear from Ian Petchenik, director of communications at flight-tracking website Flightradar24 about what GPS interference looks like in real-time.
Instagram: @bbcwhatintheworld
Email: whatintheworld@bbc.co.uk
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Presenter: Hannah Gelbart
Producer: Emilia Jansson and Benita Barden
Editor: Verity Wilde
Last on
Broadcasts
- Tue 25 Nov 2025 18:50GMTÂé¶¹Éç World Service News Internet
- Wed 26 Nov 2025 03:50GMTÂé¶¹Éç World Service East and Southern Africa, South Asia, West and Central Africa & East Asia only
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What in the World
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