Sofia Airport. Photo: Shutterstock Following a report of an unusual security incident on a flight from Tel Aviv to Vienna, the Bulgarian Ministry of Transport and Communications published an official statement on Sunday evening (October 18, 2026) detailing the circumstances behind the plane's diversion to Sofia Airport.
According to the announcement, an Airbus A320 aircraft operating flight OS82 on the Tel Aviv-Vienna route was diverted to land in Sofia after a bomb threat was reported.
According to initial information provided by the ministry, there were 51 passengers and six crew members on board the plane, for a total of 57 people
The Bulgarian Ministry of Transport stated that during the flight, in the border area with Romania, the plane's crew reported receiving a bomb threat alert.
Following the report, the crew decided to make an unscheduled landing in Sofia, instead of continuing to the planned destination in Vienna.
In the official announcement, the ministry confirmed that, in accordance with procedures, a Bulgarian Air Force fighter jet was launched and accompanied the passenger plane until it landed at Sofia Airport.
It was also reported that, after the incident, a special task force was established and the responsible bodies in Bulgaria began investigating the circumstances.
The Ministry of Transportation confirmed that passengers were removed from the plane, but the statement did not provide details on the source of the threat, the results of the tests, or whether the flight continued. The ministry's statement also did not report that explosives were found on the plane.
Austrian Airlines told Passport News that it received a threat against flight OS82 from Tel Aviv to Vienna, forcing the plane to land in Sofia. According to the company's response, the plane landed safely at 8:42 p.m. Central European Time (CEST) and was scanned following the threat.
Austrian confirmed that 51 passengers and six crew members were on board, and noted that after the tests are completed, passengers will be placed on an alternative flight as soon as possible.
"The safety of our passengers and crew is always our top priority," the company said in its response to PassportNews.