An Air India flight heading from Phuket, Thailand, to Delhi was forced to make an emergency landing on Friday morning after a bomb threat note was found onboard, according to a Reuters report quoting airport officials..
Flight AI 379, carrying 156 passengers, had just taken off from Phuket International Airport at around 9:30 AM local time. But not long after departure, the aircraft made a wide turn over the Andaman Sea and headed back to Phuket, where it landed safely.
Authorities say a passenger discovered a note threatening a bomb attack, prompting the emergency response. Thai officials are now questioning the individual who found the note, trying to determine whether it was a hoax or a real threat.
“During the cruising phase of the flight a security alert was received after which the pilot took a mid-air turn back to Phuket,” the official said.
Once the plane landed, all passengers were evacuated, and security teams swept the aircraft for explosives. No bomb or suspicious device was found, officials confirmed.
Meanwhile, Thai airport officials are questioning the passenger who discovered the handwritten bomb threat note during the flight.
The Airports of Thailand (AOT) acknowledged the incident but shared limited details, while Air India has yet to issue an official statement.
This incident comes just one day after a deadly Air India plane crash in Ahmedabad, which left over 265 people dead, putting Indian aviation under increased scrutiny.
Officials note that bomb threats targeting Indian flights have surged, with nearly 1,000 false alarms recorded in the first ten months of last year—ten times more than in 2023.
Passengers on AI 379 were later moved to a secure area as authorities continued their investigation.
