Over the past year, commercial flight crews have been dealing with a surge in false GPS signals, initially intended for military use to counter drones and missiles.
GPS Interference Over Black Sea
These signals, once confined to war zones in Ukraine and the Middle East, are now affecting civilian aviation, raising concerns about flight safety.
Pilots, aviation industry representatives, and regulators have reported a growing number of GPS disruptions on flights worldwide, according to Digi24.
One notable incident occurred in August 2024, when a United Airlines flight from Delhi to New York experienced GPS interference over the Black Sea.
The false signals caused the plane’s route to deviate, and though the crew used other navigation systems to land safely at Newark Liberty Airport, the flight path showed that it ended in the Atlantic Ocean.
Similarly, in July, the crew of an Airbus A320 reported a “major map shift,” and a Boeing 787 had to abort two landings due to GPS failures.
Rely on GPS Navigation
Modern aircraft rely heavily on GPS for navigation, and false data can affect systems for extended periods. Reports have shown that GPS spoofing incidents have skyrocketed. In August 2024, over 1,100 flights were impacted by GPS issues daily, a sharp increase from just a few dozen in February.
Experts believe the interference primarily comes from electronic warfare devices in Russia, Ukraine, and Israel, though portable devices can also be responsible.
While pilots are trained to handle GPS disruptions and use backup navigation systems, the frequency of these incidents raises concerns about the potential for distraction during critical situations.
Industry leaders are working on solutions, but a full defense against GPS spoofing may not be available until 2025.
