Austrian Airlines flight diverted to Sofia after bomb threat

Emergency diversion An Austrian Airlines flight from Tel Aviv to Vienna was diverted to Sofia, Bulgaria, after a bomb threat was reported as the aircraft approached Romanian airspace. The decision to land was taken by the crew following the threat.

Flight details The aircraft, an Airbus A320 registered OE‑LZE, carried 51 passengers and six crew members. According to flight‑tracking data, the plane entered Romanian airspace at about 9:10 p.m. local time, then turned south and headed back toward Bulgaria, where it landed in Sofia roughly half an hour after the threat was received.

Security response Bulgarian authorities scrambled a MiG‑29 fighter jet to escort the airliner, following established procedures. After landing, all passengers were evacuated from the aircraft. A security search of the plane was launched immediately, and a crisis response team was set up to investigate the incident.

Passenger handling The airline confirmed that once the search is complete, passengers will be rebooked onto alternative flights as quickly as possible. No injuries or damage were reported.

Technical details During the incident, the aircraft transmitted the squawk code 7700, a standard signal for a general emergency, according to data from the ADS‑B Exchange platform.

Wider context The incident follows a separate event earlier in October when a flydubai co‑pilot allegedly attempted to sabotage a flight to Tel Aviv. In addition, Croatian and German authorities recently scrambled fighter jets after a commercial flight from Corfu triggered a hijacking alert.

Current status Bulgarian transport authorities have launched an investigation into the bomb threat. The situation remains under review, with authorities monitoring the aircraft and the surrounding airspace for any further developments.