Austrian Airlines flight from Tel Aviv makes emergency landing in Bulgaria after bomb threat

An Austrian Airlines plane made an emergency landing in the Bulgarian capital Sofia on Sunday evening during its flight from Tel Aviv to Vienna, after reports of a suspicious object on board raised initial concerns about possible explosives.

Israeli Channel 12 reported that the aircraft had departed from Ben Gurion Airport in Tel Aviv bound for Vienna, but the pilot was forced to request an urgent landing in Sofia following security alerts about a suspicious object on the plane.

According to the channel, the pilot issued the emergency code 7700, which signals a general emergency on board, before landing at the Bulgarian airport. Authorities then began thorough inspections to determine the nature of the threat and ensure the aircraft was free of any dangerous materials.

There were 51 passengers and six crew members on board. Authorities implemented necessary security measures after landing, while the aircraft was inspected and an investigation into the incident was launched.

According to Israeli security sources, investigators are considering several possible explanations for the incident, including suspicion of a bomb on board and the possibility that an intruder attempted to breach the aircraft's systems. Authorities continue to examine other scenarios to determine the nature of the threat.