Israel Flight Diverted to Bulgaria After Bomb Threat

An Austrian Airlines flight carrying 57 people from Tel Aviv to Vienna diverted to Sofia, Bulgaria, on October 18, 2026, after a bomb threat. Bulgarian fighter jets escorted the Airbus A320 before authorities evacuated passengers and searched the aircraft, finding no danger.

Flight OS82 was cruising at 38,000 feet over Bulgarian airspace when the pilots declared a general emergency transmitting squawk code 7700. The Airbus A320, registered as OE-LZE, had departed Ben Gurion Airport in Tel Aviv earlier that Sunday evening.

Data tracked by Flightradar24 showed the aircraft entering Romanian airspace at approximately 9:10 p.m. before executing a turn to the south. ADS-B Exchange telemetry confirmed that the jet was transmitting the squawk code for a general emergency around the same period. The plane had left Ben Gurion Airport at 6:50 p.m. local time on Sunday, October 18, 2026, operating a scheduled journey to Vienna International Airport in Austria.

Bomb threat forces Israel to Austria flight into emergency landing. #TelAviv #Vienna #BBCNews

As the aircraft approached the border with Romania, the flight crew reported receiving a bomb threat signal. The pilots made the decision to divert from their scheduled route to Vienna and land at Vasil Levski Airport in Sofia as a precaution.

Haaretz reported that the warning originated from an Austrian citizen. This individual was not on board the flight.

File photo of an airbus A320-214, with Austrian Airlines branding, lands at Barcelona-El Prat airport, in Barcelona, Spain — Photo: bbc.co.uk

Other reports noted an anonymous caller warned of a bomb on the aircraft. The plane was reportedly carrying a delegation of young people who were due to speak at the United Nations.

MiG-29 Fighter Jets Escort Airbus A320 to Sofia Airport

Following standard emergency procedures, the Bulgarian Air Force scrambled MiG-29 fighter jets to escort the airliner until it touched down safely. The aircraft was carrying 51 passengers and six crew members. Emergency crews met the plane on the runway when it landed at 8:42 p.m. local time, roughly four hours and forty minutes after departing Israel. Flight tracking data confirmed that the aircraft landed in Sofia, Bulgaria at 10:42 PM local time.

Israel War | Bomb Threat At Austrian Airlines Vienna To Tel Aviv Flight Forces Emergency landing

We can confirm that a threat was made against flight OS82 on 18 October 2026 from Tel Aviv to Vienna (TLV to VIE), which necessitated a stopover in Sofia (SOF).

Austrian Airlines spokesperson, via The Mirror

Bulgaria’s Transport Ministry established a crisis response team and initiated an investigation immediately after the landing. Passengers were deplaned and evacuated from the terminal area while security authorities launched a thorough search of the cabin, the crew, and their baggage. According to statements from the ministry, a task force was formed and responsible institutions began an immediate inquiry into the incident.

Security Sweeps Find No Danger

Authorities cleared the aircraft after finding no suspicious items or explosive devices on board. Officials later indicated that the warning originated from a call placed in Austria. Investigators have not publicly established the full background of the caller.

Austrian Airlines Flight Diverted After Bomb Threat | Emergency Landing in Bulgaria | Tel Aviv

During the search of the affected aircraft, the passengers, and the crew, no danger was identified.

Austrian Airlines, via The Times of Israel

Passengers re-boarded the aircraft later that night after the security checks concluded. Flight OS82 continued its journey from Sofia to Vienna with all travelers on board, arriving in Austria without further incident.

The diversion follows recent aviation security incidents across Europe. Croatia and Germany scrambled fighter jets after a commercial flight from Corfu to Nuremberg accidentally transmitted a hijacking alert.

Israel Flight Diverted to Bulgaria After Bomb Threat — Photo: news18.com

Earlier, a flight from Israel also encountered an airborne security scare. A pilot attempted to hijack a Flydubai flight bound for Tel Aviv by attacking the captain before crew and passengers intervened.