Austrian Airlines Tel Aviv-Vienna flight diverted to Sofia after bomb threat

An Austrian Airlines flight from Tel Aviv to Vienna was diverted to Sofia, Bulgaria, on Sunday after a warning about a suspicious object on board. The airline's flight data and local authorities confirmed the diversion.

Flight OS82, an Airbus A320 registered OE-LZE, left Ben Gurion Airport at 18:50 local time. While over Bulgarian airspace at 38,000 feet, the crew set the emergency transponder code 7700 and began a rapid descent toward Sofia Airport. The aircraft landed safely.

According to the account given to Austrian authorities, the warning came by telephone from Vienna. Once the jet stopped, it was taken to an isolated stand away from the terminal.

Emergency and security teams met the aircraft on the ground. All 51 passengers and six crew members left the plane and were taken to the terminal while specialist units searched the cabin and the cargo hold.

Early indications were that the threat was a false alarm. An inquiry is under way into who placed the call in Vienna.

After the searches were completed and local aviation authorities gave clearance, the aircraft was expected to leave Sofia for Vienna shortly after midnight.