Wizz Air plane diverted to Budapest after a bomb threat

A Wizz Air passenger plane flying from London to Sofia on Monday was diverted to Budapest following a bomb threat. The aircraft, an Airbus A321neo, was escorted to Liszt Ferenc International Airport by a Gripen fighter jet from the Hungarian Defence Forces.

Hungarian Defence Minister Romulusz Ruszin-Szendi announced that NATO’s air readiness service had issued an ALPHA alert. The military aircraft took off within minutes and accompanied the Wizz Air plane until it landed safely in Budapest, after which it returned to its base in Kecskemét.

According to Kisalföld, the aircraft was redirected while it was over Bosnia and Herzegovina. After landing, the second runway at Budapest Airport was closed, and authorities intervened to take charge of and check the passengers.

So far, authorities have not confirmed the presence of an explosive device on board. Investigations are continuing to establish the circumstances surrounding the threat.