Defence Secretary John Healey was returning to the UK on Thursday after visiting British troops in Estonia when the incident occurred, according to The Times newspaper.
It said smartphones and laptops aboard the aircraft were unable to connect to the internet, while pilots had to switch to an alternative navigation system after the plane’s GPS signal was disrupted during the roughly three-hour flight.
A defence source quoted by the media described the incident as "reckless Russian interference" but said the RAF was well prepared to handle such activity.
It was not immediately clear whether Healey was deliberately targeted, but the flight path of the Dassault Falcon 900LX aircraft was visible on online tracking websites, the reports said.
Passengers on board, including journalists and photographers, were told that the aircraft could continue operating safely despite the interference, according to broadcaster Sky News.
GPS disruption has become a common feature of modern warfare and has frequently been linked to Russia, Sky News said.
In September 2025, an aircraft carrying European Commission chief Ursula von der Leyen experienced suspected GPS jamming.
European Union officials said the plane landed safely and cited information from Bulgarian authorities suggesting Russia was responsible.
In March 2024, an RAF aircraft carrying former British Defence Secretary Grant Shapps also experienced GPS interference for about 30 minutes while flying near Russian territory, according to Sky News.
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Source: Sky News, IAR, PAP