MiG-29 Escorts Flight From Israel as Bomb Threat Makes Emergency Landing in Bulgaria
Austrian flight lands in Sofia
The Austrian Airlines OS82 flight, an Airbus A320 travelling from Tel Aviv to Vienna, made an emergency landing in Bulgaria after a bomb threat was reported, according to Bulgaria’s Ministry of Transport. The crew decided to land in Sofia, Bulgarian authorities said.
Bulgaria’s Ministry of Defence said an air force MiG-29 escorted the plane to Sofia airport. Austrian Airlines told AFP that a security search of the aircraft took place.
Authorities open investigation
The Bulgarian Transport Ministry said a crisis response team had been set up and relevant authorities had begun investigating the incident. Flightradar24 data showed the aircraft entered Romanian airspace at about 9:10pm (18:10 GMT), then turned south and headed back towards Bulgaria.
Separate Flydubai account appears
The account also describes a Flydubai aircraft that plunged about 17,000 feet (5,180 metres) before other Flydubai pilots brought it under control. Passengers and other crew subdued the alleged attacker.
Authorities in the UAE said that aircraft’s co-pilot was on a “suicide” mission to crash the plane at Israel’s Ben Gurion airport in Tel Aviv. The account does not clarify how this episode is connected to the Austrian Airlines flight.
Key points
- Austrian Airlines flight OS82 landed in Sofia after a reported bomb threat.
- A Bulgarian air force MiG-29 escorted the aircraft to Sofia airport.
- Bulgarian authorities established a crisis response team and launched an investigation.
- The account also describes a separate Flydubai incident but does not explain its connection to OS82.