Austrian Airlines flight diverted to Sofia after bomb threat

An Austrian Airlines flight, OS82, traveling from Tel Aviv to Vienna, was diverted to Sofia, Bulgaria, late on Sunday, October 18, 2026, following a bomb threat. The Airbus A320, carrying 51 passengers and six crew members, landed safely at Sofia Airport at 20:42 CEST. The alert was initiated while the aircraft was flying over Romanian airspace, prompting the Bulgarian Air Force to scramble a MiG-29 fighter jet to escort the plane to the capital.

Upon landing, passengers were evacuated while local authorities conducted a thorough security inspection of the aircraft. Although initial reports highlighted a bomb threat signal, no explosives or suspicious items were discovered during the search. Following the clearance from authorities, the airline confirmed that the threat was unfounded. Passengers were subsequently cleared to continue their journey to Vienna, and the airline resumed operations after the safety protocols were completed.