Crime Bomb Hoax Grounds AirAsia Plane in Phuket

[Georgealbert]

 

Picture of the aircraft HS-EAG Airbus A321 Neo at the secure parking area.

 

An AirAsia flight was thrown into chaos on the afternoon of 23 May, after a 63 year old Thai passenger allegedly made a bomb threat shortly before takeoff, prompting the aircraft to stop its scheduled departure from Phuket International Airport.

 

Flight FD3092, bound for Bangkok’s Don Mueang Airport, was scheduled to depart at 15:10. However, the Airbus A321 aircraft, carrying 200 passengers, was forced to move to a secure area of the airport at 15:17 after the male passenger reportedly claimed there was a bomb in an overhead luggage compartment, as he was loading his black shoulder bag onto the shelf. Witnesses reported that he told the flight attendant, "Watch out for the bomb in the bag."

 

The captain immediately followed standard aviation security protocols and alerted air traffic control, triggering an emergency response. The aircraft was directed to Isolated Parking Bay 99, where all passengers were evacuated and subjected to security screening.

 

Phuket Airport activated its Emergency Operations Centre (EOC) and coordinated a thorough investigation in collaboration with airport security, AirAsia staff, provincial police and the tourist police. All baggage and the aircraft were inspected meticulously. Authorities later confirmed that no suspicious or dangerous items were found.

 

Passengers were offered refreshments during the delay and the airline provided regular updates. The individual responsible for the false alarm was detained and denied further travel. AirAsia confirmed that it intends to pursue legal action in accordance with aviation laws due to the passenger’s “inappropriate behaviour”.

 

A spokesperson for Phuket Airport reiterated that the emergency bomb threat protocol, based on strict ICAO (

International Civil Aviation Organisation) standards, was followed without compromise to ensure the safety of all on board.

 

After receiving the all-clear, flight FD3092 was rescheduled to depart at approximately 19:00, but finally departed ar 19:35, arriving in Bangkok at around 20:52.

 

In a statement issued later, AirAsia apologised for the disruption, adding: “The safety of our passengers and crew is our utmost priority. We appreciate the patience and understanding of our guests during this time.”

 

The incident has once again highlighted the serious legal consequences of making false threats aboard commercial flights.

 

 

  Adapted by Asean Now from Khaosod 2025-05-24.

 

 

 

 

[stevenl]

Idiot to make a claim like that.

[arick]

AirAsia flight attendants don't even like fishing rods on board so of course you can't say that.

[KannikaP]

Four hours delay to look in the overhead lockers?

Surely it was only the one 'joker's ' bag which needed examining.

[keeffy48]

2 minutes ago, KannikaP said:

Four hours delay to look in the overhead lockers?

Surely it was only the one 'joker's ' bag which needed examining.

 

I  wouldn't be taking the risk if I was crew or complaining if I was a passenger plus :

 

 

 

A spokesperson for Phuket Airport reiterated that the emergency bomb threat protocol, based on strict ICAO (

International Civil Aviation Organisation) standards, was followed without compromise to ensure the safety of all on board.

[hotchilli]

10 hours ago, Georgealbert said:

The individual responsible for the false alarm was detained and denied further travel. AirAsia confirmed that it intends to pursue legal action in accordance with aviation laws due to the passenger’s “inappropriate behaviour”.

I hope the passenger feels as smug later after getting the bill frr the delay.

[hotchilli]

17 minutes ago, KannikaP said:

Four hours delay to look in the overhead lockers?

Surely it was only the one 'joker's ' bag which needed examining.

No they have to make 100% sure of no bombs... that means every bag, even hold luggage has to be checked...

[Xonax]

34 minutes ago, hotchilli said:

No they have to make 100% sure of no bombs... that means every bag, even hold luggage has to be checked...

I guess that all bags had already been checked before boarding!

[hanbla]

54 minutes ago, KannikaP said:

Four hours delay to look in the overhead lockers?

Surely it was only the one 'joker's ' bag which needed examining.

Well since they follow the international security protocol they have to check every single bag on the plane and that takes time. It's also described in the text.

[FlorC]

Luckily is was a Thai person.

 

Farang have had enough bad press the last months.

[PomPolo]

1 hour ago, KannikaP said:

Four hours delay to look in the overhead lockers?

Surely it was only the one 'joker's ' bag which needed examining.

Think it's the joker's head that needs examined!

[sanabavy IV]

I'd like to know how serious the consequences will be for that " deranged" Thai passenger.

[scorecard]

2 hours ago, KannikaP said:

Four hours delay to look in the overhead lockers?

Surely it was only the one 'joker's ' bag which needed examining.

You're crazy.

 

1 hour ago, Xonax said:

I guess that all bags had already been checked before boarding!

Maybe but if it is a bomber that passenger could probably devise a way to bypass the initial security check. 

[AgMech Cowboy]

2 hours ago, KannikaP said:

Four hours delay to look in the overhead lockers?

Surely it was only the one 'joker's ' bag which needed examining.

That's not how they do it.  If he had actually had intent to use a bomb, that 'trick' of suggesting a bomb in his bag could have been a diversion.  The whole plane must be inspected.

[Hamus Yaigh]

If you have a 63 year old on a domestic flight, is that person likely to say "Watch out for the bomb in the bag" if there really was a bomb in the bag? It is utter madness to assume he was a threat?

 

The fact that security protocols can't distinguish between obvious non-threats and potential dangers suggests a system that has become dangerously rigid and divorced from basic human judgment. It's security theater taken to an almost comical extreme - if the consequences weren't so serious for the poor passengers caught up in it.

[scorecard]

2 hours ago, Xonax said:

I guess that all bags had already been checked before boarding!

 

2 hours ago, Xonax said:

I guess that all bags had already been checked before boarding!

 

OK, but is that a very thorough check / inspection? NO it's not.

[Anthony mellows]

Oh dear, what was probarbly intended as a stupid joke is going to cost that idiot dearly.

[KannikaP]

41 minutes ago, scorecard said:

You're crazy.

 

Maybe but if it is a bomber that passenger could probably devise a way to bypass the initial security check. 

If he had been a 'serious' bomber, he would not have joked to the stewardess.

[KannikaP]

18 minutes ago, scorecard said:

 

 

OK, but is that a very thorough check / inspection? NO it's not.

I was pulled aside at Don Mueng because an Xray had detected a Power Bank in my checked in bag. So I think it was pretty thorough.

How some of these 'mules' think they can get 20kg of dope through in their bag amazes me.

[Nick Carter icp]

2 minutes ago, KannikaP said:

If he had been a 'serious' bomber, he would not have joked to the stewardess.

 

   If that was the reasoning, then serious bombers would joke about it s a disguise to pretend that  they weren t  being serious 

[wensiensheng]

I thought everybody already knew that any mention of a bomb, jokingly or not, immediately brought to bear the full procedure for dealing with such things. And it’s never pretty.

 

Evidently this one idiot thought it was a subject that could be joked about. It isn’t.

[Shocked farang]

As he's a senior he will claim to have dementia, of course. 

[BerndD]

The 63-year-old Thai: 'I was just kidding.'

Probably the most expensive fun in his life.