Last Updated on November 2, 2026 by YeJahan
YEJAHAN DESK
BUDAPEST — A Wizz Air passenger flight en route from London to Sofia was intercepted and escorted by a Hungarian fighter jet before making an emergency landing in Budapest on Sunday following a mid-air bomb threat.
Wizz Air Flight 4302, which departed London Luton Airport at 08:33 GMT bound for the Bulgarian capital, was flying through central European airspace when the crew received the security alert. The aircraft immediately requested an emergency diversion to Budapest Liszt Ferenc International Airport.
The Hungarian Ministry of Defence deployed a Saab JAS 39 Gripen fighter jet within minutes of the alert to intercept and escort the Airbus passenger airliner safely down to the tarmac, Hungarian Defence Minister Romulusz Ruszin-Szendi confirmed.
Upon landing at 12:09 local time (11:09 GMT), the aircraft was directed to an isolated taxiway stand. Emergency services and specialized police units evacuated the passengers and conducted an exhaustive sweep of the cabin, cargo hold, and luggage.
A spokesperson for Wizz Air later confirmed that the security sweep had been completed, revealing that the threat was a hoax. “An inspection has been completed and nothing was found,” the airline statement read, adding that the flight was cleared to resume its journey to Sofia shortly after. The airline emphasized that it cooperated fully with Hungarian law enforcement throughout the ordeal, reiterating that the safety of its passengers and crew remains its absolute priority. Hungarian authorities have initiated an investigation into the source of the false threat.
Copyright YeJahan News Network, 2026
