Phuket, Thailand (June 13, 2025) – An Air India Airbus A320 en route from Phuket to New Delhi was forced to make an emergency landing on Friday morning after a bomb threat was reported mid-air, according to Thailand’s Airports Authority.
The flight, carrying over 180 passengers, had just taken off when the pilot alerted air traffic control, citing a message indicating a possible explosive device on board.
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The plane was immediately ordered to return to Phuket International Airport, where emergency crews were placed on high alert.
“Passenger safety is our top priority,” read a statement from Airports of Thailand (AoT) on its official Facebook page. “All passengers were safely evacuated, and a thorough security check of the aircraft is ongoing.”
Bomb disposal experts and aviation security personnel swept through the aircraft, but no explosives were found in the initial inspection. The passengers have since been rebooked on other flights while authorities investigate the source and credibility of the threat.
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This incident unfolds just 24 hours after another Air India tragedy, when a London-bound passenger jet crashed shortly after takeoff from Ahmedabad, India, killing at least 265 people, including several on the ground. Preliminary investigations point to engine failure, though black box data is still being analyzed.
“This is a dark week for Indian aviation,” said aviation analyst Ravi Malhotra, calling for “immediate audits of Air India’s safety and crisis response protocols.”
Another passenger, Priya S., who was on the Phuket flight, said: “Everyone was terrified. The crew stayed calm, but we all feared the worst. Thank God we landed safely.”
Thai police chief Major General Chatchawan Panthong told reporters: “We are treating the bomb threat as a serious matter. We have not ruled out foul play.”
A joint probe is now underway involving the Thai Aviation Authority, India’s Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA), and Interpol to trace the origin of the threat and identify any potential suspects
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