An Austrian Airlines flight from Tel Aviv to Vienna made an emergency landing in Sofia on Sunday night after a bomb threat.
Flight OS82, carrying 51 passengers and six crew members, landed safely in the Bulgarian city after being diverted, according to a statement from Lufthansa Group, Austrian Airlines’ parent company.
The threat comes just two weeks after the co-pilot of a flydubai flight travelling from Dubai to Tel Aviv allegedly tried to hijack and crash the aircraft, with disaster only averted thanks to the actions of the flight’s captain and passengers on board.
The Vienna-bound Airbus A320 is undergoing security checks with passengers being rebooked on alternative flights, according to Lufthansa Group.
“The safety of our passengers and crew is always our top priority,” the statement said.
It is believed that a Vienna resident had called in the threat to Austrian police.
Investigators are examining whether the threat was a hoax, Israeli security officials were told.
Last month, Hamam al-Hammami allegedly used an axe to attack the captain of the flydubai flight heading to Tel Aviv. The Omani co-pilot had planned to crash the aircraft into Ben-Gurion Airport’s passenger terminal, according to Emirati investigators. Captain Smit Machchhar managed to open the cockpit door, allowing a cabin crew member and passengers to subdue the alleged attacker. The plane, carrying 174 passengers and eight crew members, made an emergency landing in Saudi Arabia.
On October 13, security personnel found nothing unusual aboard a Delta Air Lines flight from the United States after an anonymous bomb threat prompted authorities to direct it to a remote runway at Ben-Gurion Airport. All passengers disembarked safely, and airport operations returned to normal, according to the Israel Airports Authority.
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