The flight OS82, an Airbus A320, was forced to divert to Sofia after a bomb alert was reported near the Romanian border. The crew, after receiving the emergency signal, landed at Sofia airport several hours into the journey.
Bulgarian authorities scrambled a fighter jet to escort the plane until it reached the runway, and the Ministry of Transport and Communications set up a crisis management headquarters to conduct a thorough inspection. After a series of checks, no explosive device was found inside the aircraft. The airline confirmed that all passengers remained aboard.
Among those on board was a delegation of young Israelis slated to speak at the United Nations, a detail noted by the Times of Israel. Ynet reported that passengers recalled the diversion followed an anonymous report, and that a suspicious object had allegedly been spotted on the aircraft's deck.
The incident comes less than three weeks after a similar scare on a Flydubai flight en route to Tel Aviv, heightening security concerns across the region. The Israeli government has since reiterated its commitment to rigorous aviation safety protocols.
The flight resumed its journey to Vienna that night, proceeding without incident. Aviation authorities will issue a full report on the investigation, and officials are monitoring the situation closely.