Austrian Airlines flight from Tel Aviv diverted to Sofia over bomb threat

An Austrian Airlines flight from Tel Aviv was forced to make an emergency landing in Sofia on Sunday, October 18, 2026, after a bomb threat was reported on board while the aircraft was airborne over the border between Romania and Bulgaria.

The Airbus A320, operating as flight OS82 and registered as OE-LZE, departed Ben Gurion Airport in Tel Aviv bound for Vienna International Airport. According to reports from Airlive and Theliberal, the crew declared a general emergency by broadcasting squawk code 7700 while cruising at 38,000 feet. Bulgarian state television broadcaster BNT, citing statements from the Ministry of Transport and Communications and reported by Aol and Newsday, confirmed that a crew member on board reported receiving the threat.

Media additions

Austrian Airlines Flight from Tel Aviv to Vienna Makes Emergency Landing in Sofia Following Bomb Threat

In accordance with established air safety procedures, the Bulgarian Ministry of Defence stated that standby MiG-29 fighter jets were scrambled to carry out an airspace protection mission as part of NATO’s Air Policing mission. The interception and escort operation was conducted in coordination with NATO’s Combined Air Operations Centre in Torrejón, Spain, as reported by Bgnes.

The aircraft landed safely at Sofia Airport at a remote parking position. Emergency response teams and security personnel met the plane, where all 51 passengers and six crew members were safely evacuated to the terminal. Specialized units immediately commenced a thorough security inspection of the cabin and cargo hold, according to Airlive.

Israeli media outlets, including reports cited by Bgnes and Theliberal from publications such as Haaretz, Ynet, and KAN, indicated that the initial alert stemmed from a telephone call made in Vienna concerning a suspicious item or bomb. One account suggested the call originated from an Austrian national who was not on the flight. Furthermore, reports noted that a delegation of young people scheduled to speak before the United Nations was among the passengers on board.

The diversion occurs against a backdrop of heightened regional tensions and recent security alerts affecting flights connected to Israel. Outlets such as Aol, Theliberal, and Manchester Evening News noted prior incidents, including anonymous bomb threats targeting Delta Air Lines flights from New York to Israel, and a previous emergency involving a flydubai co-pilot attack on a flight to Tel Aviv that prompted extensive international scrutiny.

As local aviation authorities and an operational task force continue their investigation in Sofia, Lufthansa Group—the owner of Austrian Airlines—announced that affected passengers would be transferred to an alternative flight to complete their journey to Vienna as soon as security clearances are finalized.

What to Watch Next

• Completion of security sweeps and forensic analysis of the anonymous call by Austrian and Bulgarian authorities.
• Official confirmation from transport ministries regarding the exact nature of the threat.
• Resumption of the journey for the passengers stranded at Sofia Airport.

For ongoing updates on international aviation security developments, visit our World coverage section.