Bomb Threat: Flight Departing Israel Makes Emergency Landing in Bulgaria

An Austrian Airlines plane that took off from Ben Gurion Airport in Israel heading to Vienna on Sunday received reports of a suspicious object during its flight.

After initial suspicions of explosive materials in the aircraft's belly, the pilot made an emergency landing in Sofia, Bulgaria, where local authorities conducted inspections, according to Israeli Channel 12.

Relevant authorities in Israel are currently trying to form a clear picture of the situation, while the airline was notified of a "suspicion of explosive material."

After the plane landed, local authorities began subjecting it to security checks. There were 51 passengers and 6 crew members on board, who are scheduled to be redistributed onto new flights.

The airline confirmed that "the aircraft is currently undergoing security inspections."

Details of the Incident

A state of alert occurred in the skies on Sunday evening after an Austrian Airlines plane, which had taken off from Ben Gurion Airport in Israel heading to Vienna, received warnings about a suspicious object during its flight.

Following the initial suspicion of an explosive material in the luggage hold, the pilot decided to make an emergency landing in Sofia, where local agencies began inspection operations.

Security authorities in Israel were informed of the incident, while investigations are underway into the possibility that the report came from an unknown person attempting again to mislead security services by reporting a bomb, alongside examining other possibilities.

Emergency data indicates that the pilots activated code 7700, an international code used to declare a general emergency on board the aircraft.

What Did Austrian Airlines Say?

A spokesperson for Austrian Airlines told Reuters that a company aircraft carrying 57 people and traveling from Tel Aviv to Vienna diverted its route to the Bulgarian capital Sofia late on Sunday, after receiving a threat against the plane.

Austrian Airlines said the threat targeted flight OS82 from Tel Aviv to Vienna, necessitating a stopover in Sofia. It added that the plane landed safely at 2042 Central European Time (1842 GMT).

The company stated that the Airbus A320 is being inspected, and passengers will be rebooked onto an alternative flight after the inspection is complete. There were 51 passengers and six crew members on board.

Data from the flight tracking website Flightradar24 showed that an Airbus A320, registered under number OE-LZE, was scheduled to depart Tel Aviv for Vienna but diverted its route to Sofia.

Fighter Jet Accompanies Plane

Sky News, citing preliminary details from the Bulgarian Ministry of Transport and Communications, added that the plane landed after receiving a "bomb threat signal."

The ministry said in a statement, "During the flight, at the border with Romania, the crew reported a bomb threat signal and decided to land exceptionally in Sofia."

The ministry added that an air force fighter jet accompanied the plane until its landing in Sofia, and that passengers subsequently disembarked.