Austrian Airlines Flight From Israel Diverts to Bulgaria After Bomb Threat

SOFIA (Terror Monitor) — An Austrian Airlines flight travelling from Tel Aviv to Vienna made an emergency landing in Bulgaria late Sunday after a bomb threat was reported against the aircraft, prompting the Bulgarian Air Force to scramble a MiG-29 fighter jet to escort the passenger plane to Sofia.

The Airbus A320, operating as flight OS82, was carrying 51 passengers and six crew members when the threat was reported as the aircraft approached the Romanian border. Bulgarian authorities ordered an emergency response, and the plane was diverted to Sofia, where it landed safely. No injuries were reported.

The incident occurred on Sunday, October 18, amid heightened attention to aviation security following a separate incident involving a Flydubai flight bound for Israel last month.

Bomb Threat Reported Near Romanian Border

According to Bulgaria's Ministry of Transport and Communications, the crew reported receiving a bomb threat while the aircraft was approaching the Romanian border and decided to make an emergency landing in Sofia.

The ministry said a Bulgarian Air Force fighter jet was dispatched in accordance with established procedures to accompany the aircraft until it landed at Sofia Airport.

A crisis response team was established, and the relevant authorities began security checks after the aircraft arrived. Passengers were taken off the plane while security personnel examined the aircraft.

Flight-tracking data cited by Reuters and other media outlets indicated that the aircraft, registered as OE-LZE, had been scheduled to travel from Tel Aviv to Vienna before its route was diverted to the Bulgarian capital.

The aircraft landed in Sofia at approximately 8:42 p.m. Central European Summer Time on Sunday, according to reports by Sky News and other media organisations.

Austrian Authorities Confirm Telephone Threat

Austrian Interior Minister Gerhard Karner confirmed on Monday that the threat had been made by telephone to Vienna Airport.

Speaking at a joint press conference with his Bulgarian counterpart, Karner said an investigation was underway but declined to disclose further details about the person responsible or the precise nature of the threat.

According to Reuters, the Israeli newspaper Haaretz reported that the threat had allegedly been made by an Austrian national who was not aboard the aircraft. However, the identity of the caller and the circumstances surrounding the incident had not been officially established in the information made public by Austrian authorities.

Investigators are working to establish who issued the threat and whether it represented a credible security risk.

No Danger Found During Security Searches

Austrian Airlines subsequently confirmed that the threat had necessitated an intermediate landing in Sofia.

In a statement issued on Monday, the airline said searches of the aircraft, passengers and crew had found no danger.

The company confirmed that all 51 passengers and six crew members were safe and that the flight resumed its journey to Vienna after passengers reboarded the aircraft.

The plane arrived in the Austrian capital in the early hours of Monday, October 19, completing its journey after the unscheduled stop in Bulgaria.

The findings meant that no explosive device or other immediate danger was identified during the security checks reported by the airline. Nevertheless, the investigation into the threat remains a separate matter.

Bulgarian Authorities Launch Investigation

Bulgaria's Ministry of Transport and Communications said the relevant institutions had initiated checks following the emergency landing.

The deployment of a MiG-29 fighter jet was part of the security response to the reported threat, allowing the aircraft to be escorted to the airport while emergency procedures were activated.

The incident also involved coordination between aviation personnel and security authorities responsible for inspecting the aircraft after landing.

Although the threat ultimately resulted in no reported injuries or confirmed danger aboard the plane, authorities are investigating the circumstances surrounding the warning.

Incident Follows Flydubai Aviation Security Scare

The latest incident comes less than three weeks after a serious security scare involving a Flydubai flight travelling from Dubai to Tel Aviv on September 30.

According to Reuters, the United Arab Emirates' attorney general said an Omani co-pilot allegedly attempted to seize control of the aircraft and crash it into a terminal at Israel's Ben Gurion Airport in a suicide attack.

The captain, passengers and other crew members thwarted the alleged attempt, and the aircraft was diverted to Saudi Arabia, where it landed safely.

The incident prompted renewed attention to security procedures aboard commercial aircraft operating routes connected to Israel.

The Austrian Airlines incident is separate, and authorities have not established any connection between the two events.

Investigation Continues

Austrian Airlines has confirmed that no danger was identified during the searches conducted after the Sofia landing. All passengers and crew members remained safe, and the flight subsequently continued to Vienna.

Austrian and Bulgarian authorities are continuing to examine the bomb threat, including its origin and credibility. Officials have not publicly established who was responsible or disclosed a motive.

The immediate aviation security alert has ended, but the investigation into the threat remains ongoing.