Vienna-Bound Flight From Tel Aviv Diverted After Bomb Threat

A Tel Aviv-to-Vienna flight made an unscheduled landing in Sofia on Sunday evening after a bomb threat. A Bulgarian fighter jet escorted it to the airport.

• 51 passengers and six crew were aboard the Airbus A320.
• The crew reported the threat near the Romanian border.
• Passengers left the plane, and Bulgarian authorities began an inspection.
• Israel's air force said it was not involved in the response.

Why it matters: Flights connected to Israel have faced repeated security incidents in recent weeks. The diversion adds to scrutiny of aviation security on those routes.

• Last month, a flydubai co-pilot allegedly attacked the captain with a crash axe.
• Last week, two anonymous bomb reports on Delta flights to Israel proved false.

How 5 sources split on this story

Where they split: Outlets disagree on how the threat arrived: a crew report, or a phone call to Austrian authorities.

What’s next: Bulgaria's transport ministry said the responsible agencies are inspecting the aircraft. No findings have been reported yet.

• Was the threat credible, or another false report like the Delta cases?
• Which airline operated the flight? The Jerusalem Post names Austrian Airlines, but The Independent says it is unconfirmed.
• Who made the threat, and how was it communicated?