Tel Aviv–Vienna flight diverted to Sofia following bomb threat

An A320 aircraft operating flight OS82 from Tel Aviv to Vienna was diverted to Sofia last night following a bomb threat alert. According to initial information, there were six crew members and 51 passengers on board, the Ministry of Transport and Communications announced.

While the flight was approaching the Romanian border, the crew reported receiving a bomb threat alert and subsequently decided to make an emergency landing in Sofia. A Bulgarian Air Force fighter jet escorted the aircraft until it landed at the capital’s airport. All passengers were disembarked from the aircraft. An operational task force was set up, and the relevant authorities launched an investigation.

The Bulgarian Air Force carried out an airspace protection mission as part of the Air Policing operation, the Ministry of Defence reported.

Israeli media report that the aircraft was carrying a delegation of young people who were due to speak before the United Nations. Concerns for their safety arose after a suspicious object was discovered on board.

The aircraft, which made an emergency landing at Sofia’s Vasil Levski Airport following a bomb threat on board, took off again shortly before 3 a.m, reported BNT.

Edited by Diana Tsankova

Translated by Kostadin Atanasov