site.btaPassenger Plane Operating Tel Aviv–Vienna Flight Diverted to Sofia after Bomb Threat

An Airbus A320 operating flight OS82 from Tel Aviv to Vienna was diverted to Sofia on Sunday evening following a bomb threat. According to initial information, there were six crew members and 51 passengers on board, the Ministry of Transport and Communications' press centre said.

While the aircraft was approaching the Romanian border, the crew reported receiving a bomb threat and decided to make an emergency landing in Sofia.

The Defence Ministry said that the Bulgarian Air Force had activated its standby forces and assets as part of its Air Policing mission to protect the country's airspace. The operation was carried out in coordination with NATO's Combined Air Operations Centre Torrejon in Spain.

The Air Force immediately scrambled MiG-29 fighter jets on standby, which carried out the procedures required under the circumstances. The passenger aircraft abandoned its flight to Vienna and was diverted to Vasil Levski Sofia Airport, the statement said.

A task force has been set up, and the relevant authorities have launched an investigation.