Wizz Air flight from London diverted to Budapest after bomb threat

Summarised from 5 outlets · Updated 2 Nov, 14:59 · Archive

A Wizz Air flight from London to Sofia was diverted to Budapest after receiving a bomb threat mid-flight, escorted by a Hungarian fighter jet.

A Wizz Air flight travelling from London Luton to Sofia was diverted to Budapest Liszt Ferenc International Airport on Monday after receiving a bomb threat during the flight. The Airbus A321neo aircraft changed course over Bosnia and Herzegovina and requested permission to land in Budapest.

A Hungarian Gripen fighter jet was deployed to escort the passenger aircraft. Hungarian Defence Minister Romulusz Ruszin-Szendi said in a Facebook post that the fighter jet was scrambled within minutes of the threat being received. The aircraft landed safely at 12:08pm or 12:09pm local time on Runway 2. Firefighters, police and counter-terrorism officials were stationed at the airport as the plane came in to land.

Authorities carried out security inspections of the aircraft and its passengers following the landing. The BBC reported that the inspection was completed and nothing was found, and the plane would depart again shortly. Wizz Air said in a statement that it was cooperating fully with the authorities and that the safety of passengers and crew remained its highest priority.

The incident caused a temporary closure of Runway 2, with all arriving and departing flights redirected to the airport's other runway. The Gripen jet returned to its base in Kecskemét after escorting the aircraft. Hungarian Defence Minister Ruszin-Szendi said police carried out additional measures following the landing.

According to flight tracking data cited by the BBC, the flight departed Luton at 08:33 GMT and was originally scheduled to arrive in Sofia at 13:25 local time (11:25 GMT), but landed in Budapest at 12:09 local time (11:09 GMT).

How it is being reported

• Wizz Air flight from London in emergency landing after bomb threatA Hungarian fighter jet escorted the aircraft to Budapest after the threat was received mid-air.BBC News · 2 Nov, 14:35
• Fighter jet escorts Wizz Air flight from London after bomb threat as plane makes emergency landingA fighter jet escorted a Wizz Air passenger plane flying from London to Bulgaria on Monday following a bomb threat on board the flight.Daily Mail · 2 Nov, 13:56
• Wizz Air flight from UK rocked by bomb threat as fighter jet scrambledA Wizz Air flight from London to Sofia was targeted by a bomb threat, forcing an emergency landing in Budapest as a Hungarian Gripen fighter jet was scrambled to escort the aircraft to safetyThe Mirror · 2 Nov, 13:52
• Fighter jet scrambled to escort London Wizz Air flight as bomb threat forces emergency landingA Wizz Air flight from London to Sofia was diverted to Budapest airport on Monday after receiving a bomb threat, Hungarian Defence Minister Romulusz Ruszin-Szendi said in a Facebook post.The Independent · 2 Nov, 13:42
• Wizz Air flight from London forced to divert to Hungary after bomb threat as fighter jet deployedA Wizz Air flight from London to Sofia was diverted to Budapest Airport after receiving a bomb threat. An Airbus A321neo turned back over Bosnia and Herzegovina after requesting permission to land at Budapest’s Liszt Ferenc International Airport. The Hungarian Defence Minister Romulusz Ruszin-Szendi confirmed the diversion in a Facebook post following the incident on Monday. A Hungarian Gripen fighter jet was deployed to escort the passenger aircraft, which landed in Budapest. TRENDING Stories Videos Your Say The jet then returned to its base in Kecskemét after assisting the craft.…GB News · 2 Nov, 13:13

In this story: Wizz Air · London · Sofia · Budapest · Hungary · Romulusz Ruszin-Szendi · Bosnia and Herzegovina · Kecskemét

This summary was written by AI from the headlines and standfirsts above, and states as fact only what at least two outlets report. How we use AI · Report a problem · Corrections log