The Swedish Transport Agency is sounding the alarm. GPS interference over Swedish airspace has increased exponentially. 

“Recently, the disruptions have increased both geographically and in scope,” says Andreas Holmgren at the Swedish Transport Agency.

The number of reports of problems with GPS for aircraft in Sweden is increasing dramatically. 

In 2023, 55 reports of GPS problems were received The Swedish Transport Agency. Last year, that number was 495 – and so far this year, 733 reports have been received. 

According to the Swedish Transport Agency, there have been even more incidents, but the number of unreported incidents is large. This is because foreign airlines that fly over Sweden often only report to their own country's aviation authority. 

The disruptions are also occurring over a larger area than before, the authority states. 

– Recently, the disruptions have increased both geographically and in scope. The disruptions now occur within a larger area, both over water and land in Sweden, says Andreas Holmgren, head of unit at the Swedish Transport Agency in a press release. 

Recently, European Commission President Ursula von der Leyden was hit by GPS interference, and the pilot was forced to look for paper maps to land the plane. 

According to the Swedish Transport Agency, the GPS problems are serious. 

– This is serious and it is a safety risk for civil aviation, not least given the extent, duration and nature of the disruptions. At the same time, it is important to remember that pilots have more opportunities to navigate well, if the satellite-based system fails, Andreas Holmgren continues.

Source: Expressen.se