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Austrian Airlines flight OS82 from Tel Aviv to Vienna was diverted to Sofia on Sunday, October 18, after the crew received a reported bomb threat near the Romanian border.
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Bulgarian authorities scrambled a MiG-29 fighter jet to escort the Airbus A320 to Sofia Airport following the security alert.
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The aircraft was carrying 51 passengers and six crew members, all of whom disembarked safely after the emergency landing.
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Bulgarian authorities established a crisis response team and searched the aircraft, while the airline arranged alternative flights for passengers.
October 19, (THEWILL) – An Austrian Airlines flight from Tel Aviv to Vienna was forced to make an emergency diversion to Bulgaria on Sunday, October 18, after its crew received a reported bomb threat while the aircraft was near the Romanian border.
The incident involving Austrian Airlines flight OS82 triggered a major security response, with the Bulgarian Air Force scrambling a MiG-29 fighter jet to escort the Airbus A320 to Sofia’s Vasil Levski Airport.
The aircraft, which was carrying 51 passengers and six crew members, landed safely in Sofia at about 9:43pm local time on Sunday, according to flight-tracking data.
All 57 people aboard subsequently disembarked as Bulgarian authorities commenced security procedures, including a search of the aircraft.
The Bulgarian Ministry of Defence confirmed that a MiG-29 fighter aircraft was deployed to escort the passenger jet after the reported threat.
According to the Bulgarian Ministry of Transport, the threat was received while the aircraft was near the Romanian border, prompting the crew to divert from its scheduled route to Vienna and head towards Sofia.
The exact nature of the threat and how it was communicated to the crew had not been disclosed by authorities as of Monday.
Emergency Declared
Flight OS82 departed Ben Gurion Airport in Tel Aviv at approximately 6:46pm local time on Sunday, October 18, according to FlightAware.
Flightradar24 data showed that the aircraft entered Romanian airspace at about 9:10pm before changing course southwards towards Bulgaria.
The aircraft subsequently landed at Sofia’s Vasil Levski Airport at approximately 9:43pm, about three hours after its departure from Tel Aviv.
Data from ADS-B Exchange showed the aircraft transmitting squawk code 7700 around the same period. The code is the internationally recognised transponder signal indicating that an aircraft is experiencing a general emergency.
Following the emergency landing, passengers and crew were taken off the aircraft while security personnel conducted a search.
The Bulgarian Transport Ministry said a crisis response team had been established and that relevant authorities had launched an investigation into the reported threat.
Austrian Airlines also confirmed that a security search of the aircraft was under way.
The airline said passengers would be rebooked onto alternative flights as quickly as possible once the security procedures had been completed.
There were no immediate reports of injuries among the passengers or crew. There was also no immediate indication that an explosive device had been discovered aboard the aircraft.
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Incident Comes After Flydubai Aviation Scare
The Austrian Airlines emergency came only weeks after a separate aviation security incident involving a Flydubai aircraft travelling from the United Arab Emirates to Tel Aviv.
The Flydubai aircraft, carrying 174 passengers, was forced to divert to Saudi Arabia after its co-pilot allegedly attacked the pilot with an axe in an attempt to crash the plane.
THEWILL reported that the aircraft had plunged thousands of feet during the confrontation before other pilots and crew members regained control.
Passengers and other crew members subsequently subdued the alleged attacker before the aircraft made an emergency landing at Prince Sultan bin Abdulaziz International Airport in Tabuk, northwestern Saudi Arabia.
UAE authorities later described the incident as an attempted terrorist attack, alleging that the co-pilot was on a “suicide” mission to crash the aircraft at Israel’s Ben Gurion Airport.
The alleged attacker, identified as Omani national Hamam Al-Hammami, has since been charged with terrorism offences in the UAE.
Following the Flydubai incident, the Israeli government ordered checks on the identities of pilots flying into the country.
Felix Ifijeh is a journalist with years of professional reporting experience. Known for his keen news sense, compelling storytelling and commitment to accurate, impactful reporting, he has built a reputation for turning leads into clear, engaging, and well-structured reports that resonate with readers. His work reflects deep newsroom experience and a commitment to accurate, impactful journalism.
