An Austrian Airlines flight from Tel Aviv to Vienna diverted to Sofia under a Bulgarian MiG-29 fighter escort after a bomb threat on Sunday. Searches found no danger, and passengers eventually continued to Vienna, but a telephone call was enough to turn an ordinary flight into a frantic military and police operation.
According to Reuters, Bulgarian MiG-29 fighters were scrambled as the aircraft approached the Romanian border. A fighter escorted the passenger jet to Sofia. Austrian Interior Minister Gerhard Karner subsequently confirmed that the threat had been made by telephone to Vienna Airport. Authorities are investigating, but he declined to provide further details.
Imagine looking out your window and seeing a fighter escort, then landing in a country you had no intention of visiting and waiting while authorities determine whether your aircraft is safe. Even when a threat proves empty, passengers lose time, crews face an unexpected diversion, and police and military resources are drawn into the response.
A great solo travel tip spotted this week on Live and Let's Fly.
