Austrian Airlines: All-clear after bomb threat on flight – authorities are investigating

Vienna. After a bomb threat was made against a flight from Tel Aviv to Vienna, the Austrian authorities began investigating the background. The Office for the Protection of the Constitution is now conducting the investigation, said Austria's Interior Minister Gerhard Karner (ÖVP) on Monday.

It is still unclear who is behind the threat. The plane from Lufthansa subsidiary Austrian Airlines landed safely in Vienna on Monday morning after a diversion via Sofia. There were 51 passengers and six crew members on board.

Upon request, Austrian Airlines confirmed that flight OS82 had to stop in the Bulgarian capital because of the threat. However, no danger was found during the search of the aircraft, passengers and crew.

The company said the safety of passengers and crew is always the top priority. According to the Lower Austria State Police Directorate, it was a telephone tip-off about a possible abstract threat. The checks in Sofia were negative.

The threat forced the flight to land in Sofia on Sunday evening. According to a Sky News report, a Bulgarian Air Force fighter jet escorted the Airbus A320 aircraft until it landed safely at 8:42 p.m. According to the airline, the flight continued to Vienna with all passengers that night.