Bomb threat forces passenger jet flying from Israel to divert
A fighter jet was scrambled when a bomb threat was made against a passenger aircraft flying from Israel to Vienna on Sunday (Monday AEDT).
The crew of the Austrian Airlines plane decided to make an emergency landing in the Bulgarian capital city Sofia after a threat to blow up the plane was reportedly sent, Bulgaria’s transport ministry said.
A Bulgarian Air Force MIG- 29 fighter jet. AP
Passengers were evacuated from the plane after it landed safely.
Bulgarian authorities said the air force scrambled a MiG-29 fighter jet to escort the airliner as part of established protocol.
Early inquiries showed the aircraft carried six crew members and 51 passengers, all of whom have all since disembarked, according to the transport ministry statement.
Austrian Airlines told the AFP news agency that a security search of the aircraft was carried out.
“Once the search of the aircraft is complete, the passengers will be rebooked onto alternative flights as quickly as possible,” the airline said.
Authorities have launched an investigation into the incident, the Bulgarian Transport Ministry said.
During a separate incident in September, the co-pilot aboard a flybubai airline flight headed to Tel Aviv from Dubai attacked the captain and allegedly planned to intentionally crash the plane but was stopped by the captain, passengers and crew.
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