Bomb threat forces airliner from Tel Aviv to divert to Bulgaria

A bomb threat against an Austrian Airlines flight from Tel Aviv to Vienna prompted the plane to divert to Bulgaria, according to Bulgarian authorities and the airline. The Austrian Airlines crew decided to make an emergency landing in Sofia after reportedly receiving a bomb threat as they neared Romania. Bulgarian authorities and the airline confirmed the evacuation of passengers from the aircraft following landing.

The Bulgarian air force scrambled a MiG-29 fighter jet to escort the airliner as per established procedures. The flight, carrying 51 passengers and six crew members, had an Airbus A320 aircraft. A security search of the aircraft was conducted after it safely landed in Sofia, approximately half an hour after the threat was received.

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