Wizz Air flight diverted to Budapest following mid-air bomb threat

A Wizz Air passenger aircraft traveling from London Luton Airport to Sofia was forced to make an emergency landing at Budapest Liszt Ferenc International Airport on Monday, November 2, 2026, following a mid-air bomb threat.

Emergency Response and Escort

According to flight tracking data from FlightAware, Wizz Air flight 4302 departed Luton at 08:33 GMT and was scheduled to arrive in the Bulgarian capital at 13:25 local time (11:25 GMT). However, the aircraft landed in Budapest at 12:09 local time (11:09 GMT).

Hungarian Defence Minister Romulusz Ruszin-Szendis confirmed that the aircraft received a bomb threat while in flight, which forced it to abort its original route and request permission to land in Budapest. Ruszin-Szendis stated, "Within minutes, a Hungarian Defence Forces Gripen fighter jet took to the skies and provided an escort for the passenger aircraft."

In a social media post, the minister added that "Nato’s air defence readiness service issued an ALPHA alert" and that the Hungarian Defence Forces Gripen fighter jet ensured the aircraft landed safely. Following the escort, the fighter jet returned to its base in Kecskemét.

Security Procedures at Budapest Airport

Upon landing on Runway 31R, the aircraft was marshaled to an isolated, secure remote stand. According to reports from AirLive, airport authorities temporarily closed Runway 31R to deal with the aircraft, shifting traffic to Runway 31L to minimize disruption.

At the stand, police, emergency response units, and specialized counter-terrorism squads took charge of the scene. Wizz Air stated that the aircraft taxied to a designated stand where "the relevant authorities carried out the necessary security checks on the aircraft and passengers."

Bomb disposal officers conducted a thorough search of the cabin and the cargo hold. Following these inspections, authorities confirmed that nothing suspicious or hazardous was found on board. Wizz Air later confirmed that "an inspection had been completed and nothing was found."

Flight Details and Ongoing Investigation

The aircraft involved was an Airbus A321neo, registered as HA-LGR. After being cleared by Hungarian authorities, the plane departed Budapest at 16:48 CET to complete its journey to Sofia.

In a statement, a spokesperson for Wizz Air said, "Wizz Air is cooperating fully with the authorities. The safety of passengers and crew remains our highest priority."

Hungarian law enforcement officers are continuing to investigate the source of the threat, which authorities have characterized as a false threat.

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Sources

• bbc.com: Wizz Air flight from Luton in emergency landing after bomb threat
• news.az: Wizz Air flight makes emergency landing in Budapest after bomb threat | News.az
• simpleflying.com: Wizz Air Flight From London Diverts Due To Bomb Threat
• independent.co.uk: Fighter jet scrambled to escort London Wizz Air flight as bomb threat forces emergency landing | The Independent
• airlive.net: A bomb threat triggered NATO fighter jets to escort Wizz Air Flight W64302 from London Luton today
• aol.co.uk: Wizz Air flight makes emergency landing after bomb alert - AOL

This article was drafted with AI assistance and checked against the sources above. Company claims are reported as claims. Cover image is AI-generated.