2nd November 2026 – (Budapest) Hungarian Gripen fighter jets were scrambled to escort a Wizz Air passenger aircraft bound from London to Sofia after a bomb threat prompted a diversion to Budapest, where the plane landed safely and taxied to a designated stand for inspection. Defence Minister Romulusz Ruszin‑Szendi said the jet was accompanied to base and that police carried out further actions following the landing. The airline confirmed it was cooperating fully with the authorities and that the safety of passengers and crew remains its top priority.
Airport and emergency teams imposed standard security procedures on arrival at Budapest Liszt Ferenc International Airport, where firefighters, police and counter‑terrorism officers were on standby. Local reports said the Airbus A321neo turned towards Budapest while over Bosnia and Herzegovina and touched down at about 12.08pm on runway two, which was subsequently closed while checks were carried out, with traffic using the other runway. There were no immediate reports of injuries.
Wizz Air said the aircraft diverted and landed in line with security protocols before taxiing to a remote position for screening of the airframe and passengers. Hungarian media said NATO’s air defence readiness service issued an ALPHA alert, triggering the scramble of the Gripens. Authorities continued inspections into the evening as operations at the airport gradually normalised.
The confirmation of the escort by the defence ministry followed the recent appointment of Romulusz Ruszin‑Szendi as Hungary’s Minister of Defence in May 2026, a role in which he has overseen air policing responsibilities and crisis responses. His office reiterated that aviation safety and public security remain paramount.