An Air India flight bound for New Delhi was forced to make an emergency landing in Phuket, Thailand, on Friday after receiving an onboard bomb threat, according to airport authorities.
Flight AI 379, which departed Phuket at 9:30 a.m. local time (0230 GMT), had 156 passengers on board. The plane made a loop over the Andaman Sea before returning safely to Phuket International Airport, as tracked by Flightradar24. All passengers were safely evacuated in accordance with emergency procedures, confirmed an official from Airports of Thailand (AOT).
No further details about the nature or source of the bomb threat have been disclosed by authorities. Air India has yet to issue an official statement.
The incident comes just a day after a deadly Air India crash in Ahmedabad, where more than 240 people lost their lives shortly after takeoff—adding to growing concerns about aviation safety in the region.
The bomb threat also highlights a broader pattern affecting Indian aviation. In 2023, Indian airlines and airports reported nearly 1,000 hoax bomb threats within the first 10 months of the year—almost ten times more than in 2022.
Authorities are continuing to investigate the latest threat while ensuring passenger safety remains a top priority.
Melissa Enoch
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