Bomb threat forces an Austrian Airlines flight from Tel Aviv to divert to Sofia in Bulgaria

19 October 2026

An Austrian Airlines flight from Tel Aviv to Vienna made an emergency landing in Sofia, Bulgaria, on Sunday, October 18, 2026, after the crew reported a bomb threat while on the border with Romania. The Airbus A320, carrying 51 passengers and six crew, landed safely, and the Bulgarian air force scrambled a MiG-29 fighter jet to escort it as part of established procedures, Bulgaria's Transport Ministry said. Passengers were evacuated after landing and a security search of the aircraft was launched; the airline said passengers would be rebooked onto alternative flights once the search was complete. The Transport Ministry said a crisis response team had been set up and an investigation opened.