A Wizz Air flight travelling from the United Kingdom to Bulgaria diverted to Hungary on Monday, November 2, following a “bomb threat.”
The aircraft took off from London Luton Airport and was destined to land in the Bulgarian capital of Sofia when it reportedly received the threat.
“Wizz Air confirms that today’s London Luton–Sofia flight was diverted to Budapest following a bomb threat received during the flight,” the Hungary-based carrier said in a statement shared with Euronews.
“The aircraft diverted and landed safely at Budapest Liszt Ferenc International Airport in accordance with the relevant security protocols and procedures, before taxiing to a designated stand, where the relevant authorities carried out the necessary security checks on the aircraft and passengers,” it continued.
The airline added that it was cooperating with authorities and that the “safety of passengers and crew remains our highest priority.”
A Hungarian military Gripen fighter jet was scrambled to escort the flight back to Budapest, Hungarian Defence Minister Romulusz Ruszin-Szendi said in a post on social media.
He added that the jet had returned to its base at Kecskemét in central Hungary and that police had since taken charge of the situation.
Data from flight-tracking website Flightradar24 shows that the plane was flying over Bosnia and Herzegovina when it diverted towards Hungary.
