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Jun
BOMB THREAT FORCES AIR INDIA FLIGHT TO MAKE EMERGENCY LANDING IN PHUKET
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CapitalTimesNews / 1 week
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An Air India flight from Phuket, Thailand, to New Delhi was forced to make an emergency landing shortly after takeoff on Friday due to a bomb threat onboard. The Airbus A320, carrying 156 passengers, turned back over the Andaman Sea, circling multiple times before landing safely back in Phuket. According to Airports of Thailand, the threat was discovered shortly after departure when the flight crew alerted air traffic control about a message indicating the presence of a bomb. “A bomb threat note was reportedly recovered from the lavatory of the plane,” said an official. All passengers were safely evacuated from the aircraft after it returned to Phuket following emergency protocols. Authorities conducted a thorough search of the plane and luggage, but no explosives or suspicious items were found. The incident comes just a day after a tragic Air India crash in Ahmedabad, India, resulting in the deaths of at least 265 people, including some on the ground. The consecutive aviation scares have raised serious concerns about passenger safety. “We are continuing to investigate the latest threat while ensuring passenger safety remains a top priority,” said an official. Air India has yet to issue an official statement on the incident. The bomb threat on the Phuket-New Delhi flight is the latest in a string of security incidents affecting Indian airlines. In 2024, Indian airlines and airports received over 1,000 hoax bomb threats, nearly 10 times the number recorded in 2022. The flight’s safe landing and evacuation of all passengers have been confirmed, but investigations into the threat are ongoing.