# Aviation bomb threats and security diversions > Live situation record from CLSTR: https://clstr.news/situations/aviation-bomb-threats-and-security-diversions > Updated: 2026-10-18T19:45:00.000Z. Sources: 180. Developments: 2. A series of aviation security incidents involving bomb threats has been reported. In one instance, an Air Serbia flight departing from Split for Belgrade was evacuated after a 75-year-old male passenger claimed a bomb was on board, later stating he was “only joking”. Following a security sweep that found no explosives, the individual was removed by police for investigation, and the flight proceeded. In a separate incident, an Austrian Airlines Airbus A320 flight, designated OS82, traveling from Tel Aviv to Vienna, was diverted to Sofia, Bulgaria, following an anonymous report of a suspicious object. The aircraft, carrying 51 passengers and six crew members, activated the 7700 emergency code while flying near the border of Bulgaria and Romania. The Bulgarian Air Force deployed a MiG-29 fighter jet to escort the plane to Sofia Airport, where all passengers and crew were safely evacuated. While some reports indicated the plane was carrying a delegation of young people scheduled to speak at the United Nations, no explosive device was found during the subsequent security inspection. The Israeli Air Force clarified that the incident did not occur within or near Israeli airspace, and Bulgarian authorities are investigating the origin of the anonymous threat, which may have been triggered by a telephone call to Austrian authorities in Vienna. The Bulgarian Ministry of Transport has established a crisis response team to investigate the incident. The airline confirmed that passengers would be rebooked onto alternative flights once security inspections were completed. Following the security clearance at Vasil Levski Airport, where Bulgarian special forces and a crisis response team conducted a thorough search of the cabin and cargo hold, the flight resumed its journey to Vienna. Reports suggest the threat may have been made by an Austrian citizen who was not on the aircraft. ## Claims - An Austrian Airlines flight from Tel Aviv to Vienna made an emergency landing in Sofia due to security threats. (corroborated by 44 sources) - All 51 passengers and six crew members were evacuated safely without injuries. (corroborated by 37 sources) - A Bulgarian Air Force MiG-29 fighter jet escorted the aircraft to Sofia airport. (corroborated by 28 sources) - The emergency landing was triggered by an anonymous report regarding an explosive device on board. (corroborated by 27 sources) - The aircraft was broadcasting the 7700 emergency code. (corroborated by 19 sources) - Austrian authorities received a phone call in Vienna regarding a suspicious object on the plane. (corroborated by 17 sources) - The aircraft was carrying a delegation of young people scheduled to speak at the United Nations. (corroborated by 10 sources) - Bulgarian authorities established a crisis response team to investigate the incident. (corroborated by 7 sources) - The bomb threat was reportedly made by an Austrian citizen who was not on board the aircraft. (corroborated by 6 sources) - Security checks confirmed that no explosive device was on board the aircraft. (corroborated by 5 sources) - The incident did not occur in or near Israeli airspace. (corroborated by 4 sources) ## Timeline ### 2026-10-18: Austrian Airlines flight diverted to Sofia after bomb threat An Austrian Airlines flight from Tel Aviv to Vienna diverted to Sofia, Bulgaria, following a bomb threat. A MiG-29 escorted the plane, but no explosives were found after a security search. 165 sources. https://clstr.news/cluster/austrian-airlines-flight-diverted-to-bulgaria-after-bomb-threat ### 2026-10-05: Air Serbia flight evacuated in Split after bomb threat An Air Serbia flight from Split to Belgrade was evacuated after a 75-year-old passenger made a bomb threat and then claimed he was joking. No explosives were found, and the man was arrested. 17 sources. https://clstr.news/cluster/air-serbia-flight-from-split-evacuated-following-bomb-threat --- Cite as: Aviation bomb threats and security diversions. CLSTR, https://clstr.news/situations/aviation-bomb-threats-and-security-diversions