An Air India flight en route to New Delhi was forced to make an emergency landing in Phuket, Thailand, on Friday following a bomb threat, according to airport authorities.
Flight AI 379, carrying 156 passengers, had departed Phuket at 9:30 a.m. local time (0230 GMT). Shortly after takeoff, the aircraft circled over the Andaman Sea before safely returning to Phuket International Airport, as tracked by Flightradar24.
All passengers were safely evacuated following standard emergency procedures, an official from Airports of Thailand (AOT) confirmed.
Details about the nature or origin of the bomb threat have not yet been released, and Air India has not issued a formal statement as of the time of reporting.
The incident comes amid heightened concerns over aviation safety, occurring just a day after a tragic Air India crash in Ahmedabad that claimed the lives of over 240 people.
The bomb threat also underscores ongoing challenges in Indian aviation security. In 2023 alone, Indian airlines and airports reported nearly 1,000 hoax bomb threats within the first 10 months—almost ten times the total reported in 2022.
Authorities say investigations are ongoing, with a renewed focus on ensuring the safety of passengers and crew.
Nzubechukwu Eze
