An Air India flight from Phuket to New Delhi was diverted to make an emergency landing this morning due to a bomb threat received during the flight. Flight AI 379, which had taken off from Phuket International Airport at 9:30 AM local time (2:30 AM IST), executed a large turn over the Andaman Sea before returning safely to its point of origin.
Officials from Airports of Thailand confirmed that the bomb threat was detected onboard, which prompted immediate emergency response protocols. All 156 passengers onboard were evacuated safely upon landing, and no injuries have been reported. Investigations are ongoing, with authorities yet to disclose details regarding the source or credibility of the threat.
This event comes on the heels of a recent Air India crash in Ahmedabad, heightening scrutiny of the airline’s safety measures. Despite these incidents, aviation analysts maintain that India’s overall safety record in air travel is commendable. Data from the International Civil Aviation Organization highlighted that the country only experienced 0.1 incidents per million flights over the past decade.
The timing of the bomb threat coincides with Air India’s financial turnaround, boasting a reduction of annual losses by 60%, amounting to ₹4,444 crore in the fiscal year 2024. Some experts suggest that the increased attention surrounding the airline’s economic recovery could make it a potential target for threats.
As authorities work to assess whether the threat was genuine or a hoax—a trend that has been on the rise globally—some insights from a 2023 study by the U.S. Federal Aviation Administration indicated a staggering 600% increase in bomb threat hoaxes, often influenced by psychological or geopolitical factors.
Further updates are anticipated as investigations from both Thai and Indian authorities progress.
