Austrian Airlines flight diverted to Sofia after bomb threat

Austrian Airlines bomb threat emergency landing Sofia MiG-29

An Austrian Airlines Airbus A320 flight (OS82) traveling from Tel Aviv to Vienna was forced to make an emergency landing at Sofia Airport in Bulgaria on October 18, 2026, following a bomb threat. The aircraft, carrying 51 passengers and six crew members, was near the border of Romania when the crew received an anonymous warning regarding a potential explosive device on board.

During the diversion, the Bulgarian Air Force scrambled a MiG-29 fighter jet to escort the passenger plane to Sofia. The aircraft transmitted the 7700 emergency code during the incident. Upon landing at Vasil Levski Airport, Bulgarian special forces and a crisis response team conducted a thorough search of the cabin and cargo hold.

Authorities confirmed that no explosive device was found, and all passengers and crew were evacuated safely without injury. Reports suggest the threat may have been made by an Austrian citizen who was not on the aircraft. Following the security clearance, the flight resumed its journey to Vienna.

Entities

Austrian Airlines · Ben Gurion Airport · Bulgarian Air Force · Bulgarian Ministry of Transport · Israel Air Force · Israeli Air Force · Sofia Airport · Tel Aviv · United Nations · Vienna

Claims

What the coverage asserts, and how many sources carry each claim.

[● 44 SOURCES] An Austrian Airlines flight from Tel Aviv to Vienna made an emergency landing in Sofia due to security threats. www.cmjornal.pt · lat.sputnikportal.rs · www.diariodemallorca.es · www.lne.es · www.lacronicabadajoz.com · +29 more
[● 17 SOURCES] Austrian authorities received a phone call in Vienna regarding a suspicious object on the plane. www.cmjornal.pt · www.diariodemallorca.es · www.lne.es · www.lacronicabadajoz.com · vinnews.com · +6 more
[● 10 SOURCES] The aircraft was carrying a delegation of young people scheduled to speak at the United Nations. lat.sputnikportal.rs · sputnikportal.rs · www.cmjornal.pt · vinnews.com · vojvodjanskireporter.rs · +3 more
[● 27 SOURCES] The emergency landing was triggered by an anonymous report regarding an explosive device on board. lat.sputnikportal.rs · sputnikportal.rs · www.cmjornal.pt · vinnews.com · bahamasspectator.com · +15 more
[● 4 SOURCES] The incident did not occur in or near Israeli airspace. cafetorah.com · deultimominuto.com · aviation.direct
[● 28 SOURCES] A Bulgarian Air Force MiG-29 fighter jet escorted the aircraft to Sofia airport. www.diariodemallorca.es · www.lne.es · s.alwakeelnews.com · www.elmundo.es · www.lacronicabadajoz.com · +20 more
[● 44 SOURCES] An Austrian Airlines flight from Tel Aviv to Vienna was diverted to Sofia following a bomb threat. www.diariodemallorca.es · www.lne.es · www.lacronicabadajoz.com · www.farodevigo.es · www.levante-emv.com · +33 more
[● 2 SOURCES] The incident did not occur within or near Israeli airspace. cafetorah.com · deultimominuto.com
[● 37 SOURCES] All 51 passengers and six crew members were evacuated safely without injuries. www.cmjornal.pt · cafetorah.com · www.elmundo.es · www.lacronicabadajoz.com · it-bg.org · +30 more
[● 19 SOURCES] The aircraft was broadcasting the 7700 emergency code. www.diariodemallorca.es · www.lne.es · www.lacronicabadajoz.com · vinnews.com · s.alwakeelnews.com · +10 more
[● 7 SOURCES] Austrian authorities in Vienna received a telephone call alerting them to a suspicious object on board. www.diariodemallorca.es · www.lne.es · vinnews.com · infos-israel.news · www.lacronicabadajoz.com · +2 more
[● 6 SOURCES] The bomb threat was reportedly made by an Austrian citizen who was not on board the aircraft. n1info.si · havadis.at · koktejl.azet.sk · netnews.bg · www.moreto.net · +1 more