An Austrian Airlines Airbus A320 operating flight OS82 from Tel Aviv to Vienna diverted to Sofia on Sunday evening after the crew received a reported bomb-threat signal near the Bulgarian-Romanian border. The aircraft landed safely, carrying 51 passengers and six crew members. All occupants were evacuated, while Bulgarian authorities began an investigation and the aircraft was subjected to a security search.
A Bulgarian MiG-29 fighter reportedly escorted the aircraft to Sofia after the alert was raised. The diversion followed a decision by the crew to make an unscheduled landing in the Bulgarian capital, where a crisis team was established.
Austrian Airlines confirmed that a threat had been made against the flight and that passengers would be rebooked on alternative services after the inspection was completed. No injuries were reported.
Authorities had not established whether the threat was credible, whether an explosive device was present or whether the incident was a hoax at the time of the latest reports. The aircraft had been operating from Tel Aviv’s Ben Gurion Airport to Vienna when it changed course for Sofia.