Escorted by a MiG-29, Austrian Airlines flight from Tel Aviv makes emergency landing in Sofia after bomb threat
Threat reported during flight
The aircraft was diverted to Sofia after the crew reported a bomb threat signal near the Bulgarian-Romanian border, according to Bulgarian authorities. The plane landed at 9:25 p.m., based on Flightradar24 data.
The Airbus A320 was carrying 51 passengers and six crew members. It landed safely, and a MiG-29 fighter jet escorted it.
Emergency signal and response
ADS-B Exchange data showed the flight transmitting squawk code 7700 around the time it was diverted. That code signals a general emergency. Passengers were evacuated after the landing, and a security search of the aircraft began, Austrian Airlines said in a statement reported by Austrian news agency APA.
Passengers await new flights
Austrian Airlines said passengers would be rebooked onto alternative flights as soon as possible once the aircraft search was finished. The flight had been traveling from Tel Aviv to Vienna before diverting to Sofia, the Bulgarian capital.
Key points
- The Austrian Airlines plane landed safely in Sofia after a reported bomb threat.
- The Airbus A320 carried 51 passengers and six crew members.
- A MiG-29 escorted the aircraft, and passengers were evacuated after landing.
- A security search began, with alternative flights to follow.