Austrian Airlines flight OS82 from Tel Aviv to Vienna diverted to Sofia on 18 October after the crew received a bomb-threat signal while approaching the Romanian border. The Airbus A320, registered OE-LZE, carried 51 passengers and six crew members. A Bulgarian Air Force MiG-29 escorted the aircraft to Sofia, where it landed safely at about 8:42 p.m. local time. The flight later continued to Vienna after security checks found no danger.
Passengers and crew were removed from the aircraft after landing while Bulgarian authorities searched the aircraft and initiated security procedures. The Bulgarian transport ministry said the crew reported the threat near the Romanian border and that the response followed established procedures, including the deployment of a fighter escort and the activation of a crisis-response team.
Austrian Airlines confirmed that the threat concerned OS82 and that searches of the aircraft, passengers and crew found no danger. All passengers reboarded before the aircraft departed Sofia for Vienna.
Early reports described the warning as a bomb-threat signal. A later account attributed the threat to a telephone call to Vienna Airport, but authorities have not publicly identified the caller or established a motive. An investigation remains under way.