Bomb scare delays Krabi-Bangkok flight after passenger's joke
The incident occurred at about 4:47pm as flight FD4401, bound for Bangkok’s Suvarnabhumi Airport, was preparing to depart. According to officials, a male passenger made a remark about a bomb while cabin crew were…
A bomb scare delayed Thai AirAsia flight FD4401 from Krabi to Bangkok on Monday after a passenger made a remark about a bomb as the aircraft was preparing to depart, officials said. The incident began at about 4:47pm and later caused the flight to leave around 9pm, about four hours and 15 minutes late, in a disruption likely to draw attention in Phuket as aviation authorities again stress zero tolerance for security threats.
Passenger identified, aircraft searched under emergency procedures
Police identified the passenger as 45-year-old Klathach Phetpathomchon of Chonburi. He told officers he had been joking and had used a phrase he commonly said to friends.
Cabin crew alerted the pilot while luggage was being arranged in the overhead compartment. The aircraft was then sent back to the parking bay, and all passengers and their baggage were removed for inspection.
Authorities treated the remark as a genuine threat despite the explanation. An Explosive Ordnance Disposal team was deployed, and the aircraft was moved to a remote bay away from the terminal under the airport’s emergency response plan.
A full search of the plane and all luggage found no explosives or prohibited items.
Complaint filed as incident follows Wang Yi's Krabi visit
Deputy Transport Minister Phatraphong Phatprasit said he had ordered close monitoring of the case and said aviation safety must take priority. He warned that any claim or act that causes panic, whether serious or intended as a joke, is illegal and would face decisive action.
Thai AirAsia has filed a complaint with Nuea Khlong Police, and legal action is expected. Airport officials said the inspection ended at about 8pm and other flights continued operating normally.
The incident came a day after high-level meetings in Krabi involving Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi during his Apr 23-25 trip to Thailand. The Krabi talks followed his Apr 24 meeting in Bangkok with Prime Minister Anutin Charnvirakul, where both sides reaffirmed plans to deepen what they called a “sister nation” relationship through closer coordination on trade, investment and regional security.
Source: https://www.thephuketnews.com/bomb-scare-grounds-krabi-flight-after-passenger-joke-100036.php
