Estonia has accused Russia of jamming GPS navigation devices in the airspace above the Baltic states, raising fears of potential aircraft disasters. The incidents were part of an "ongoing pattern" of GPS interference in Europe, said New Scientist. But there are questions about who's to blame and if it's deliberate.
Finnair flights from Helsinki to Tartu have been paused for at least a month over "potentially catastrophic" GPS interference, said The Times, and two Finnair flights were forced to return to Helsinki over safety fears. Jamming had worsened around the Baltic Sea over the past six months, said Lauri Soini, a Finnair pilot and the Finnish Pilots Association Safety and Security Committee chair.
Estonia has pointed the finger firmly at Moscow. Foreign Minister Margus Tsahkna said the disruption was due to "completely deliberate actions" by Russia. His remarks come weeks after Germany claimed Russia was probably behind a string of GPS disturbances in the Baltic region.
Is Russia actively trying to interfere with European civil aviation? "Probably not," said The Economist. European officials say the jamming is likely intended to protect Russian forces from Ukrainian drone attacks, which are growing "more frequent and ambitious."
Although GPS jamming can sound alarming, most major airports have several navigation tools available if GPS doesn't work, Janis Kristops, an AirBaltic safety manager and a flight captain, told Reuters. Meanwhile, authorities are aiming to train pilots to verify jamming and spoofing sooner. | 
