An Austrian Airlines flight from Tel Aviv to Vienna was diverted to Sofia on Sunday after a bomb threat, Bulgarian authorities and the airline confirmed.
The Airbus A320, carrying 51 passengers and six crew members, landed safely in the Bulgarian capital at 20:42 CEST (18:42 GMT) after the crew reported the threat near the Romanian border, according to Bulgaria’s transport ministry and Austrian Airlines . A Bulgarian Air Force MiG-29 fighter jet escorted the aircraft until it landed, as per standard procedures.
Passengers were evacuated upon arrival, and a security sweep of the plane began immediately, the airline and ministry stated . Austrian Airlines later confirmed no danger was found, and passengers were rebooked on alternative flights to Vienna, arriving early Monday .
The threat was reportedly made by an Austrian citizen not on board the flight, according to Israeli newspaper Haaretz, as cited by multiple outlets . Bulgaria’s transport ministry established a crisis team to investigate the incident.
Flight tracking data showed the aircraft, registered OE-LZE, entered Romanian airspace around 21:10 local time before changing course back toward Bulgaria, with the emergency transponder code 7700 activated .
