Plane diverted to Sofia after squawking 7700 emergency code over Romania
An Israeli-linked flight was escorted by a MiG-29 to Sofia after its crew reported a possible bomb threat on board, Bulgarian authorities said. All 57 people on board were evacuated safely after landing.
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Emergency landing in Sofia
Bulgaria's Ministry of Transport said the crew of flight OS82 decided to land in Sofia after receiving word of a possible bomb on board, as reported by RMF24. A MiG-29 fighter jet escorted the aircraft to the capital's airport. The ministry reported 51 passengers and six crew members on the plane, and said everyone was evacuated after the aircraft came to a stop on the apron.
Flight timeline
Flight-tracking data cited by the ministry show the plane took off from Ben Gurion Airport in Tel Aviv at 18:46 local time. Around 21:10, while the aircraft was in Romanian airspace, the crew squawked code 7700, the international signal for a general emergency. The plane then turned south and landed in Sofia at 21:43.
Security search
Security services searched the aircraft once it was parked, according to RMF24. Bulgarian authorities set up a crisis team and opened an investigation into the incident. Officials have not publicly said whether any threat was found on board.
Wider pattern of incidents
The report noted that the incident was not the first on routes to and from Israel in recent weeks. About a month earlier, a Flydubai flight was disrupted when, according to earlier reports, the second pilot tried to attack the captain, raising the risk of a crash. The reports credited a quick response by the crew with averting a disaster.
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