{
  "id": 15512223,
  "title": "Bomb threat forces airliner from Tel Aviv to divert to Bulgaria",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/10/18/bomb-threat-forces-airliner-from-tel-aviv-to-divert-to-bulgaria-15512223",
  "topic": "world",
  "section": "World",
  "published": "2026-10-18T22:44:00.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "Free Malaysia Today",
    "slug": "free-malaysia-today-freemalays",
    "url": "https://www.freemalaysiatoday.com/category/world/2026/10/19/bomb-threat-forces-airliner-from-tel-aviv-to-divert-to-bulgaria"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "An Austrian Airlines flight from Tel Aviv to Vienna was forced to make an emergency landing in Sofia, Bulgaria on Sunday due to a bomb threat, according to Bulgarian authorities and the airline. As the plane approached Romania, the Austrian crew reportedly received the threat and decided to divert to Bulgaria, the transport ministry stated. Passengers were evacuated from the aircraft once it landed in Sofia, an Airbus A320 with 51 people on board and six crew members. A security search was conducted after landing, with the airline stating they will rebook passengers on alternative flights as soon as possible. The Bulgarian air force scrambled a MiG-29 fighter jet to escort the airliner in accordance with established protocols. Flightradar24 data shows the aircraft entered Romanian airspace at 9:10pm before heading south towards Bulgaria, where it landed in Sofia. The transport ministry has set up a crisis response team and launched an investigation into the incident.",
  "summary": "Austrian Airlines said all 51 passengers and six crew members were evacuated after the aircraft landed, which prompted a security search.",
  "key_points": [],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 5,
    "also_reported_by": [
      {
        "outlet": "Haaretz",
        "title": "Tel Aviv-Vienna flight lands in Bulgaria after suspected bomb threat",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/10/18/tel-aviv-vienna-flight-lands-in-bulgaria-after-suspected-bomb-threat",
        "published": "2026-10-18T19:11:17.000Z"
      },
      {
        "outlet": "Middle East Eye",
        "title": "Bomb threat forces airliner from Tel Aviv to divert to Bulgaria",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/10/18/bomb-threat-forces-airliner-from-tel-aviv-to-divert-to-bulgaria-15507681",
        "published": "2026-10-18T22:33:44.000Z"
      },
      {
        "outlet": "Le Monde English",
        "title": "Bomb threat forces airliner from Tel Aviv to divert to Bulgaria",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/10/18/bomb-threat-forces-airliner-from-tel-aviv-to-divert-to-bulgaria",
        "published": "2026-10-18T22:42:18.000Z"
      },
      {
        "outlet": "Free Malaysia Today",
        "title": "Bomb threat forces airliner from Tel Aviv to divert to Bulgaria",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/10/18/bomb-threat-forces-airliner-from-tel-aviv-to-divert-to-bulgaria-15510823",
        "published": "2026-10-18T22:44:00.000Z"
      }
    ]
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}