An Austrian Airlines passenger aircraft travelling from Tel Aviv to Vienna made an emergency landing in the Bulgarian capital Sofia after a bomb threat was reported during the flight.

According to Bulgaria's Ministry of Transport, the Airbus A320, operating as flight OS82, was en route to Vienna when the crew received a bomb threat while approaching the Romanian border. The pilots subsequently diverted the aircraft to Sofia as a precaution.

The aircraft landed safely, and all 51 passengers and six crew members were evacuated.

Bulgarian authorities said security teams immediately launched a thorough inspection of the aircraft after it arrived in Sofia, while emergency response procedures were activated.

As part of standard aviation security procedures, the Bulgarian Air Force scrambled a MiG-29 fighter aircraft to escort the airliner.

The Bulgarian Ministry of Transport said a crisis response team had been established and that an investigation into the bomb threat was underway. Flight-tracking data showed the aircraft turning toward Bulgaria after entering Romanian airspace, while ADS-B data indicated that the crew transmitted the 7700 general emergency squawk code during the diversion.

Austrian Airlines said security checks found no danger on board the aircraft. After the inspection was completed, passengers reboarded the aircraft and continued their journey to Vienna.

The incident comes amid heightened aviation security concerns involving flights to and from the Israel regime. It occurred less than three weeks after a Flydubai flight bound for Tel Aviv was diverted following an alleged attempt by a co-pilot to seize control of the aircraft, an incident that intensified scrutiny of aviation security on routes serving the occupied territories.(ILKHA)