In brief
An Austrian Airlines Airbus A320 bound for Vienna was diverted to Sofia after passengers were alerted to a possible explosive device on board. The flight, carrying 51 passengers and six crew, was escorted by a Bulgarian MiG‑29 and was inspected on arrival, with no injuries reported. The incident follows a series of recent aviation security scares, including a hijack attempt on a Flydubai flight. Investigations are underway to determine the threat’s origin and assess any wider security implications.
An Austrian Airlines plane carrying 51 passengers and six crew diverted from Tel Aviv to Sofia after a bomb threat was reported.
The Airbus A320 was bound for Vienna when, at 30 minutes after take‑off, passengers were alerted to a possible explosive device on board. Air traffic control redirected the flight to Vasil Levski Airport in Bulgaria.
Bulgaria’s air force scrambled a MiG‑29 fighter for escort and a team of investigators boarded the aircraft shortly after landing. No injuries were reported and the jet was searched for any dangerous materials.
The incident follows a series of recent aviation security scares. Last month a co‑pilot attacked the captain on a Flydubai flight to Tel Aviv, forcing the crew to subdue him and land safely in Saudi Arabia. Separate drills saw Croatia and Germany scramble jets in response to a false hijack alert on a Greek flight.
Austrian Airlines said the threat was real but did not disclose further details. Flight‑tracking records show the jet left Ben Gurion Airport around 20:20 local time and reached Sofia at 23:25, three hours after take‑off. The aircraft was en route over Romania when the diversion was announced.
Investigations are now underway in both Bulgaria and Israel to determine the origin of the threat and whether additional security protocols are required.
