An Air India flight bound for New Delhi was forced to make an emergency landing in Phuket on Friday following a bomb threat shortly after takeoff, according to Thai aviation authorities.
The flight, an Airbus A320 that had departed from Phuket International Airport, had just begun its journey over the Andaman Sea when the pilot alerted air traffic control of a threatening message discovered on board. In response, the aircraft immediately reversed course and circled multiple times off the island’s coast before safely landing back at the airport.
Airports of Thailand confirmed the incident in a statement posted on its official Phuket Facebook page, saying all emergency protocols were promptly activated to ensure the safety of passengers and crew.
No injuries were reported, and local security forces quickly cordoned off the aircraft upon landing. Passengers were evacuated, and a thorough inspection of the aircraft was initiated.
The incident comes just one day after a tragic crash involving another Air India aircraft en route to London, which went down in Ahmedabad, India, killing at least 265 people both on board and on the ground. Authorities have not indicated any connection between the two incidents.
An investigation into the source of the bomb threat is currently underway.
Written By Rodney Mbua
