Austrian Airlines Flight From Tel Aviv Makes Emergency Landing in Bulgaria After Bomb Threat
An Austrian Airlines flight from Tel Aviv to Vienna was diverted to Sofia, Bulgaria, due to a bomb threat, with all 51 passengers and six crew members safely evacuated.
An Austrian Airlines flight traveling from Tel Aviv to Vienna made an emergency landing in Sofia, Bulgaria, on Sunday after a bomb threat was reported.
Flight OS83, an Airbus A320, landed safely at Sofia Airport at 8:42 p.m. local time. The aircraft was carrying 51 passengers and six crew members.
The Bulgarian Ministry of Transport and Communications confirmed that the flight crew reported a "bomb threat signal" while over Romania, leading to the diversion to the Bulgarian capital.
A crisis response team was established, and an investigation into the incident has been launched. A Bulgarian Air Force fighter jet accompanied the aircraft until its landing in Sofia as part of standard procedure.
According to flight tracking data, the aircraft entered Romanian airspace around 9:10 p.m. before turning back toward Bulgaria. The aircraft transmitted squawk code 7700, a general emergency signal, around the same time.
Austrian Airlines confirmed that a threat was made against the flight, necessitating the stopover. The airline stated that the safety of passengers and crew is their top priority and that passengers would be rebooked onto an alternative flight after the aircraft was searched.
