Passenger Threatens to Plant Bomb on Aircraft, Causes 4-Hour Delay at Krabi Airport; Claims It Was Just a Joke
A Thai AirAsia passenger claimed to have a bomb in carry-on luggage at Krabi Airport on April 26, later saying it was a joke; the flight was evacuated and delayed 4 hours while authorities found nothing and arrested the suspect.
On April 26, Deputy Transport Minister Pattrapong Pattarapredit disclosed an incident in which a passenger on Thai AirAsia flight AIQ 4401, an Airbus A320 flying the Krabi-Suvarnabhumi route, made a bomb threat aboard the aircraft. He stated that as the ministry oversees the Airports of Thailand, he has coordinated with Danai Rueangson, Director-General of the Airports Authority of Thailand, and Thanisara Singha-khul, Director of Krabi Airport, regarding the matter. He has instructed all relevant agencies to closely monitor the situation and strictly adhere to aviation safety standards.
The incident occurred at 4:47 p.m. as the aircraft was backing away from its gate at Krabi Airport. The pilot immediately returned to the gate after being informed by a passenger about a dangerous object in carry-on luggage. Although the passenger later admitted it was a joke, the crew followed safety procedures and evacuated all passengers and luggage for inspection.
Krabi Airport moved the aircraft to Bay 14, away from the terminal, to conduct emergency response procedures without affecting overall operations. Other flights continued boarding and departing normally.
According to Pattrapong, the inspection was completed at 8:00 p.m. with no explosives or irregularities found. Flight AIQ 4401 departed at 9:00 p.m., resulting in a delay of approximately 4 hours and 15 minutes. The suspect is in custody and will face legal proceedings.
"I want to emphasize that passenger and flight safety is of paramount importance," Pattrapong stated. "Any allegation or act that causes panic, whether intentional or as a joke, is illegal, and authorities will take decisive action."
