The aircraft carrying Spanish Defence Minister Margarita Robles to Lithuania on Wednesday morning experienced GPS interference near Russia’s Kaliningrad region, Spanish news agency Europa Press and Reuters reported.
"There is a real threat. We have suffered that interference. We were carrying a military GPS and we are obviously very aware of it. That is why we are so committed to the search for peace," said Spanish Defence Minister Margarita Robles.
The incident involved attempts to disrupt the A330 aircraft, operated by the Spanish Air and Space Force, en route to Šiauliai Air Base.
However, the plane continued to receive signals from a military satellite, preventing any disruption.
Onboard the flight were relatives of Spanish troops stationed in Lithuania, as well as journalists accompanying the minister on her visit.
"This is yet another illustration that Russia is a neighbour who disregards all rules and does not care about the damage it may cause," said Lithuanian Defence Minister Dovilė Šakalienė. "While the GPS signal could not be blocked in this case because military aircraft systems are more resilient, civilian aircraft are constantly experiencing difficulties because of this."
Minister Robles is meeting her counterpart Šakaliene in Šiauliai on Wednesday.
Spanish Air Force personnel are currently deployed in Šiauliai for the ninth rotation of NATO’s Baltic Air Policing mission, with the Spanish contingent supporting Hungarian forces stationed in the region.
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