In brief
Bulgarian security units inspected a flight from Israel after receiving a bomb threat by e‑mail, and later a transport minister confirmed that two other aircraft had also been checked with no devices found. Authorities are working to trace the origins of the threats while maintaining normal flight operations.
A flight from Israel landed at Sofia airport on 3 November after authorities received a bomb threat sent via e‑mail, prompting immediate counter‑terrorism inspections by the Bulgarian Interior Ministry, officials said at the time of the incident.
Interior Minister Lyubomir Nikolov, the action secretary general, confirmed the plane had been placed under scrutiny by the Specialized Counter‑Terrorism Unit, which examined the aircraft for possible explosive devices. Reporters in Pernik noted the threat was received a day earlier, but no immediate danger was reported by the airline or the airport staff.
Security inspections and outcomes
The BTA reported that two aircraft at Sofia airport had been inspected after similar email bomb threats were received. The first was a flight from Istanbul linked to the plane arriving from Israel; the second was a European passenger jet scheduled to land from Bergamo and another from Dublin. Transport Minister Georgi Peev confirmed that no explosive devices were found on either plane and that both flights were not diverted, maintaining the scheduled arrivals.
"The worrying thing is that some airlines have now also started to be targeted, which means that aircraft have to be diverted and the relevant measures taken," said Nikolov, reflecting the heightened concern over the spread of such threats.
In stating the state of the investigation, Nikolov added that the ministry was actively working to identify the sender of the Monday‑issued bomb threat, recalling that prior cases had involved e‑mail addresses linked to other European countries. He emphasized that the authorities were following established protocols and that no evidence indicated a specific terrorist plan beyond the email warnings.
Transport Minister Peev praised the cooperation of civil aviation stakeholders, noting that pilots reported the threat through airline channels and that air traffic control, dispatchers, and the air force had acted according to protocol. He also clarified that the decision to not divert the flights rested solely with the aircraft captains, while the state ensured that inspections could be carried out safely and efficiently.
Both the Interior and Transport ministries underscore that the inspections were precautionary and that the safety procedures in place allowed the flights to operate normally. Authorities continue to keep a constant state of readiness as they pursue the origin of the threats and assess any broader security implications.
Uncertainties remain around the identity and motives of the individuals who sent the bomb threat emails, as no definitive link has been made to an extremist group or clear threat level. The investigations are ongoing and the ministries have not yet announced any concrete evidence that the threats were attempts to sabotage the aircraft or that a real explosive device was present. Subscribers may continue to follow updates from official sources for further developments.
