AI Narration Listen 00:000.5x0.75x1x1.25x1.5x2xThank you for your feedback.Your feedback has been reported succesfully.An Austrian Airlines flight from Tel Aviv to Vienna with 57 people on board landed in Sofia after the crew reported a bomb threat signal.2 min readOct 19, 2026 10:29 AM IST First published on: Oct 19, 2026 at 10:29 AM IST ShareWhatsapptwitterFacebookAustrian Airlines flight from Tel Aviv diverts to Sofia after 'threat'. (Photo: Wikimedia Commons)An Austrian Airlines flight from Tel Aviv to Vienna made an emergency landing in Sofia, the Bulgarian capital, on Sunday, October 18, after the crew reported a “bomb threat signal”, Reuters reported, citing Sky News. There were 57 people — 51 passengers and six crew — on board. Bulgaria’s transport ministry said a fighter jet flew alongside the plane until it landed, and the passengers were then safely evacuated. No injuries have been reported, and an investigation has begun.What happened on the flightFlightradar24 data shows the Airbus A320, registered OE-LZE, was due to leave Tel Aviv for Vienna at 6:40 pm. It was diverted to Sofia at 9:25 pm.The ministry said the crew raised the alert while the plane was on the border with Romania. In its statement, it said the crew “decided to land in Sofia extraordinarily”.The BBC said the plane, flying as Austrian Airlines flight 82, left Ben Gurion Airport on Sunday evening and landed at Vasil Levski airport in Sofia about three hours later. It said the landing came about 30 minutes after the alert was first raised.Fighter jet escort and searchThe Bulgarian air force sent up a MiG-29 fighter jet to escort the plane, the ministry said, according to the BBC.Story continues below this adAfter the landing, the passengers left the aircraft. Officers then searched the plane. The BBC said an investigation has begun.What officials and the airline saidBulgarian and Israeli media said the plane received a bomb threat. Austrian Airlines confirmed the same but gave no more details.Most ReadReuters said it could not verify the report at first, and that neither Austrian Airlines nor the ministry replied straight away to its requests for comment. The BBC has asked Lufthansa, which owns Austrian Airlines, for comment.The incident follows other case involving commercial flights in recent weeks:Story continues below this adFlydubai: Last month, a pilot tried to hijack a Flydubai flight bound for Tel Aviv by attacking the captain. The crew and passengers overpowered him, and the plane landed safely in Saudi Arabia.AdvertisementLoading Recommendations...AdvertisementLive BlogIndia news Live Updates, 19 October 2026: CJP alleges deliberate delays in release of Ashutosh Ranka and Saurav Das7 minutes agoJailer 2 box office collection: Rajinikanth-starrer earns Rs 424 cr worldwide, among top 10 highest grossing Tamil films ever7 minutes agoUS-Iran War Live Updates: Oil tumbles as Trump’s Russia sanctions waiver may lead to more fuel supplies14 minutes agoIndia News Highlights, 18 October 2026: 3 youths killed as motorcycle plunges into drain in UP’s Bhadohi14 hours agoIndia News Highlights, 17 October 2026: Bus to religious tour falls in drain, kills 8; MP CM announces compensation2 days agoAdvertisement