An Austrian Airlines flight travelling from Tel Aviv to Vienna made an emergency landing in Sofia, Bulgaria, on Sunday evening after the crew reported a bomb threat, prompting an immediate security response by local authorities.
The Airbus A320 was carrying 51 passengers and six crew members, according to information released by Bulgaria’s Ministry of Transport and Communications. The aircraft was diverted to Sofia after the threat was reported while it was flying near the Romanian border.
Bulgarian authorities said a fighter jet was scrambled to escort the aircraft and that passengers were taken off the plane after it landed safely.
Bomb Threat Reported During Flight
The crew reported a bomb-threat signal while the aircraft was in flight. The threat prompted the decision to make an unscheduled landing in Sofia rather than continue to Vienna.
Bulgarian authorities established a response team and began security checks in line with aviation safety procedures.
The exact origin of the threat and the circumstances in which it was received were not immediately established in the initial reports. Authorities had not publicly confirmed that an explosive device was present on the aircraft.
Bulgarian Fighter Jet Escorted the Plane
Following the alert, a Bulgarian Air Force fighter jet took off and accompanied the passenger aircraft until it landed at Sofia Airport.
The response was part of the security measures activated after the threat was reported. Once the aircraft reached the airport, passengers were evacuated from the plane while officials began examining the situation.
The emergency landing was completed safely. No passenger injuries were reported in the initial accounts of the incident.
Airline Arranges Alternative Travel
Austrian Airlines’ parent company, Lufthansa Group, confirmed that a threat had been received concerning the flight and that the aircraft had been diverted to Sofia.
The company said passenger and crew safety remained its priority. The passengers were expected to be transferred to an alternative flight after the necessary security checks were completed.
The incident disrupted the journey for passengers travelling between Israel and Austria, although the full extent of the delay was not immediately clear.
Investigation Underway
Bulgarian authorities launched an investigation into the threat and began inspecting the aircraft. The results of the security checks had not been fully disclosed in the initial reports.
A bomb threat does not necessarily mean that an explosive device is present. Investigators will need to establish whether the report was credible, where it originated and whether any security breach occurred.
Until the checks are completed and officials release further findings, the circumstances surrounding the threat remain under investigation.
