Air India flight makes emergency landing in Thailand after bomb threat, over 150 passengers evacuated

An Air India flight bound for New Delhi was forced into an emergency landing on June 13 after a bomb threat triggered panic mid-air. Flight AI 379, carrying 156 passengers, had just taken off from Phuket airport when it was ordered to turn back and return to the Thai island.

The aircraft had departed at 9:30 am local time but deviated from its original course over the Andaman Sea, looping back in accordance with emergency protocols. The plane was met by security and emergency teams on landing, and passengers were promptly evacuated without incident, said Thailand’s Airports Authority (AOT).

Flightradar24 confirmed the altered route of the aircraft, which never crossed into Indian airspace.

“We followed all emergency procedures. All passengers have been safely escorted from the plane,” an AOT official told reporters. However, authorities have not disclosed the source or specific content of the bomb threat.

Air India has yet to issue an official statement or respond to media queries. Local Thai officials have launched an investigation to trace the origin and credibility of the threat.

The scare comes on the heels of a national aviation tragedy — just a day earlier, an Air India Dreamliner crashed shortly after takeoff from Ahmedabad, killing all 242 on board. While unrelated, the two back-to-back incidents have heightened public anxiety over air safety in the region.

Notably, bomb threats targeting Indian aviation have seen a sharp spike. In 2023 alone, over 900 hoax threats were reported by airlines and airports — a tenfold increase from the year before, raising concerns over the strain on aviation security systems.

As investigations continue, the latest bomb scare serves as yet another reminder of the mounting challenges airlines face in ensuring passenger safety amid evolving threats.