What in the World Why your plane’s GPS might be sabotaged (but don’t be scared)
8 snips
Nov 25, 2025 Emilia Jansson, a BBC journalist specializing in GPS jamming, discusses the alarming rise of GPS interference, particularly since the Ukraine war. She explains how signal jamming blocks legitimate navigation and highlights instances of emergency landings among pilots. Ian Petchenik from Flightradar24 elaborates on real-time tracking of GPS disruption. They explore the suspected use of jamming as a tactic of Russian hybrid warfare and reassure listeners about pilot training and backup systems, emphasizing that routine passengers face minimal risk.
AI Snips
Chapters
Transcript
Episode notes
Finland's Real-World Disruptions
- Since the Ukraine war started, Finland has seen a noticeable rise in GPS jamming and spoofing incidents affecting flights.
- One Finnish airline cancelled flights to an Estonian city for a month because pilots couldn't land safely due to interference.
How GPS Can Be Disrupted
- GPS works by triangulating signals from multiple satellites to a receiver on the ground or in the air.
- Those satellite signals can be jammed (overwhelmed by noise) or spoofed (replaced with fake signals).
NIC Value Flags GPS Problems
- Flightradar24 monitors a navigation integrity category (NIC) that indicates GPS precision for aircraft.
- A NIC value below eight signals possible GPS interference in flight data, according to Ian Petchenik's explanation.