A Wizz Air flight slated to travel from London to Sofia was diverted to Budapest on Monday after a bomb threat was reported. Hungarian Gripen fighter jets were scrambled to escort the passenger plane to Liszt Ferenc International Airport, according to Defense Minister Romulusz Ruszin‑Szendi.
Defense Minister Ruszin‑Szendi posted on Facebook that the aircraft had requested permission to land at Budapest after the threat forced it to change course. He said the Hungarian Armed Forces promptly deployed Gripen jets within minutes to ensure a safe approach.
The incident also triggered a NATO air policing ALPHA alert, signaling a rapid response to potential airborne threats. The fighter jets returned to their base in Kecskemet after the plane had landed.
Police personnel moved into control of the situation on the ground once the aircraft had safely touched down. The incident was confirmed by multiple reports from Xinhua on November 2, 2026, without any indication of a physical threat materializing.
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