In brief
Sofia airport conducted counter‑terrorism inspections of three aircraft after bomb threats received via e‑mail. Xinhua and BTA reports confirm security checks, lack of incidents, and ongoing efforts to identify the threat senders. The incident emphasizes standard airport protocols and rapid response by Bulgarian authorities.
A civil aircraft arriving from Israel was placed under a counter‑terrorism inspection at Sofia airport on Tuesday after an e‑mail bomb threat was received, officials said, citing reports from Xinhua and BTA.
Xinhua reported that the plane was immediately checked by the Specialized Counter‑Terrorism Unit in the airport's security zone; interior ministry action secretary Lyubomir Nikolov confirmed that the inspection followed established protocols and that none of the crew or passengers reported any incident.
BTA added that, in addition to the Israeli flight, another aircraft from Bergamo and a separate one from Dublin were also inspected after bomb threats; transport minister Georgi Peev confirmed that no explosive devices were uncovered on either plane and that no diversions were necessary.
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,
Lyubomir Nikolov, the action secretary general of the Interior Ministry, said this in a statement to reporters in Pernik.
The inspection involved X‑ray scanning of cargo holds, explosive trace detection on the fuselage, and a thorough cabin search performed by trained security personnel; the crew was reassured that the process adhered to international aviation safety standards.
Officials said the e‑mail threat was initially forwarded to the airport’s security department, prompting an immediate chain of command that included the interior ministry, the air force, and local police units; the airport maintained normal flight operations throughout the inspection.
Interior ministry officials disclosed that they are working to trace the sender of the threat, noting that past incidents have traced email addresses and IP locations to other European countries; the current investigation is expected to identify the source of the Monday threat.
Both flights were scheduled to land on the same day; the transport minister emphasized that the final destination of a flight is a decision made by the aircraft’s captain, with the state ensuring safety procedures are followed.
Peev expressed confidence in Bulgaria’s aviation security framework, claiming that traffic controllers, the air force, and security teams had acted in accordance with protocol; he highlighted the importance of early threat reporting by pilots and airline channels.
The Bulgarian authorities reiterated that no explosive material was detected on either aircraft, and no incident was reported during or after the inspection, reinforcing the effectiveness of the airport’s readiness measures.
The incident has prompted a review of the airport’s bomb threat response procedures, with officials stating that all standard operating protocols were adhered to and that the public can be assured that no security breach occurred.
As of the latest update, the investigation into the origin of the bomb threat remains ongoing, but officials are confident that the incident was handled safely and that the rapid response teams managed the situation without compromise.
