AIR India Flight AI 379 resumed its journey to New Delhi after a bomb threat led to an emergency landing at Phuket Airport as no suspicious objects were found but one suspect is being questioned, Amarin TV said this evening (June 13).
At 10 a.m. today Phuket Airport was informed by the Flight Control Centre of Aeronautical Radio of Thailand Co., Ltd. that the pilot of this flight, from Hong Kong to Phuket then onwards to New Delhi, with 156 passengers aboard had found a bomb threat message during the journey and was returning to the tourist island’s airport.
After the airplane had landed at Phuket Airport, officials moved in with the passengers also briefed.
An Explosives Ordnance Disposal (EOD) team then combed the aircraft but as they did not find any suspicious objects the flight was allowed to resume its journey at 3.30 p.m.
Mr. Montchai Tahon, director of Phuket Airport, said the crew had found a piece of paper with the message “F…youallbomb” placed in one of the bathrooms.
Meanwhile Pol. Col. Aknit Danpitaksan, deputy commander of Phuket Provincial Police and Pol. Col. Salantanti Satsakun, superintendent of Sakoo police station, and their team took Mr. Sanjay (surname withheld), 52, an Indian national, for questioning, with interpreters brought in to help out.
He was asked to write something on a sheet of paper and this compared with the message found in the bathroom.
Police also questioned the crew who said Sanjay’s behaviour was suspicious from the point of checking in. The staff at the counter said he made a fuss as if he wanted to take someone along with him or bothered by something else.
After he boarded the plane, he got a seat in the front section but again appeared to make a fuss as if displeased with something.
A real estate businessman flying from Phuket to New Delhi told reporters that the airplane left Phuket on time at 9.30 a.m. and after a while the captain announced that there was a minor problem and to raise the window blinds.
He did not say there was a bomb threat.
While the airplane was circling for two hours more procedures were explained to the passengers.
After the airplane landed and parked far away from other planes,the passengers disembarked and the EOD unit moved in, the businessman said, adding they all were checked as were all the luggage.
After learning that there was no bomb on the plane the shocked passengers continued their journey to India according to the original plan.
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Top and Front Page: Thai police talking to Air India flight passengers after a bomb threat necessitated emergency landing at Phuket Airport.
Insert: Exterior of Phuket Airport. All photos: Amarin TV
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