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Serbian fighters reportedly escorted Sofia-bound flight after bomb threat

According to Serbia’s Ministry of Defence, fighter jets escorted a Wizz Air aircraft from Brussels to the Bulgarian border. It has not been established whether there was an explosive device on board or how the investigation into the threat concluded.

By Flank Editorial TeamEditor-in-chief: Martin NestorovPublished: ConfirmedRead in Bulgarian
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A Serbian MiG-29 fighter with two missiles beneath its wings flies against a cloudy sky.
Archive photo: A Serbian MiG-29 carrying two R-60 missiles.Photo: Krasimir Grozev / Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 3.0

Serbia’s Ministry of Defence said on 6 November 2026 that fighter jets had intercepted a Wizz Air passenger aircraft flying from Brussels to Sofia following a report of an explosive device on board, and escorted it to the Bulgarian border. The Bulgarian News Agency (BTA) relayed the statement via Serbian broadcaster RTS. Information about the operation comes from this official statement; Flank had found no independent confirmation at the time of publication.

Fighter jets and air defence forces on alert

The fighters were scrambled following an alert received by Serbia and Montenegro Air Traffic Services (SMATSA), according to Serbia’s Ministry of Defence. The ministry said they had visually identified the passenger aircraft, escorted it to the Bulgarian border and returned to Batajnica Air Base. Selected air defence units and search and rescue forces were also placed on the highest state of readiness.

Loud bangs resembling explosions were heard in the Šumadija region at around 10:30, BTA reported, citing Serbian broadcaster RTS. The ministry said the bangs had been caused by the two fighters flying at supersonic speed during the operation. The type of military aircraft was not specified.

The measures described were a response to a reported threat, not evidence that there was a bomb on board. Visual identification allows an aircraft to be identified but does not establish whether it contains a concealed explosive device.

What is known after the aircraft reached the Bulgarian border

Sofia is given as the destination, but the Serbian statement describes the escort only as far as the Bulgarian border. This does not in itself mean that Bulgarian fighter jets took over the escort. No information has been established about the actions of Bulgaria’s civilian and military authorities, the aircraft’s landing and inspection, or the condition of the passengers.

The flight number, the passenger aircraft’s registration and the exact time of the interception have not been specified. It is not known whether there was an explosive device on board or who made the threat.

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