Phuket: Bomb threat confirmed on AirAsia flight

[webfact]

AVIATION
Bomb threat confirmed on AirAsia flight

PHUKET: -- A DEPUTY director of Phuket International Airport yesterday confirmed that there was a telephoned threat of a bomb on a plane operated by AirAsia, which landed safely at the airport on Tuesday.

Kanputt Mungklasisi said his office had filed a complaint with police after a caller claimed there was an explosive on AirAsia Flight 3003 that left Bangkok for Phuket.

His statement contradicted his boss; director Pratuang Sornkam said on Tuesday that the so-called bomb threat on the AirAsia flight was only an emergency drill that nobody had been informed about.

Kanputt was speaking at a press briefing after chairing a meeting of security officials as well as navy officers about the bomb threat. Initial investigation showed the threat was highly likely to have been aimed at creating a disturbance and the caller could have been an insider or employee of companies operating inside the airport.

The caller may have been affected by new measures to rearrange the airport, he said.

He added that the investigation would take into consideration possible problems of Thai national soccer players who were among the passengers of the flight. The team, led by coach Kiatisak Senamuang, is scheduled to play warm-up matches against Myanmar, Phuket Football Club and Qatar in preparation for the Asian Games in South Korea.

Security measures at the airport will be strengthened, including checking on individuals and items to ease concerns among the public including tourists. The Navy will send members to take part in the security teams, Kanputt said.

The bomb threat was made after the flight left Don Mueang International Airport. Phuket Airport received the call at 12.10pm.

After the plane landed, the Phuket Airport authorities initiated emergency procedures including parking the aircraft in an isolated area, evacuating the 168 passengers and searching their luggage.

As a precaution, the return flight of the Airbus A330-200 from Phuket to Don Mueang was delayed from 12.50pm to 3.08pm.

Kanputt said his office planned to hold emergency exercises this week but Tuesday's incident was not part of those.

Source: http://www.nationmultimedia.com/national/Bomb-threat-confirmed-on-AirAsia-flight-30241939.html


-- The Nation 2014-08-28

[NongKhaiKid]

Another sad example of a rush to denial which is then contradicted. Only days ago the Foreign Ministry had to backtrack on their statement that a Saudi diplomat had not been re-called but had gone back for routine reasons.

We know nothing ever goes wrong in LoS but do spokespeople never consider the consequences of opening their mouth too quickly ?

Apparently not.

[laobali]

I wonder if Kanputt is a golfer too.

[IamNoone88]

Instead of isolating the aircraft, cargo and baggage and evacuating passengers and crew and allowing a bomb search by security officials, passengers were re-introduced to the area of threat to identify their own baggage. What would have happened if a device had gone off during inspection? More denials? Really, they have no clue or procedures in place to deal with this. Even my office in the Middle-East had bomb threat security questions taped behind each phone should we receive a threat. Amateur week again.

[SOTIRIOS]

....just can never get the story straight.....

...the truth is just irrelevant......

...sad and shocking.......

[Showbags]

Hope they got those awesome bomb scanners onto the job...

[me313]

First the threat, or terrorist attack, or perceived "terrorist" attack, and then the increase in over-all security, which means more passengers being groped by security and checked, x-rayed, and put under surveillance. The usual procedure worldwide now. Like a formula for spending increase.

[MediaWatcher]

NongKhaiKid, on 28 Aug 2014 - 07:29, said:NongKhaiKid, on 28 Aug 2014 - 07:29, said:

Another sad example of a rush to denial which is then contradicted. Only days ago the Foreign Ministry had to backtrack on their statement that a Saudi diplomat had not been re-called but had gone back for routine reasons.

We know nothing ever goes wrong in LoS but do spokespeople never consider the consequences of opening their mouth too quickly ?

Apparently not.

So, which official, is telling the truth....personally I believe it was a stuff up, considering that a training exercise was already taking place. But now we are in "face saving" mode, blame it on a hoax" caller. Ever tried to fine a number to call for AoT Phuket...good luck.

Edited August 28, 2014 by MediaWatcher

[NongKhaiKid]

NongKhaiKid, on 28 Aug 2014 - 07:29, said:NongKhaiKid, on 28 Aug 2014 - 07:29, said:

Another sad example of a rush to denial which is then contradicted. Only days ago the Foreign Ministry had to backtrack on their statement that a Saudi diplomat had not been re-called but had gone back for routine reasons.

We know nothing ever goes wrong in LoS but do spokespeople never consider the consequences of opening their mouth too quickly ?

Apparently not.

So, which official, is telling the truth....personally I believe it was a stuff up, considering that a training exercise was already taking place. But now we are in "face saving" mode, blame it on a hoax" caller. Ever tried to fine a number to call for AoT Phuket...good luck.

You may well be right about a stuff up and a good, or should it be bad, example of the right hand and the left hand ?

I have previous experience of many emergency type exercises and a code word was always used for any communication to distinguish between the exercise and any genuine incident and no member of the public was involved. Staff from other govt depts were used depending on the exercise but were well briefed as to their role.

If this is now a face saving exercise it just about sums up the mentality of Thai officialdom.

[MediaWatcher]

NongKhaiKid, on 28 Aug 2014 - 13:12, said:

MediaWatcher, on 28 Aug 2014 - 12:32, said:

NongKhaiKid, on 28 Aug 2014 - 07:29, said:NongKhaiKid, on 28 Aug 2014 - 07:29, said:NongKhaiKid, on 28 Aug 2014 - 07:29, said:

Another sad example of a rush to denial which is then contradicted. Only days ago the Foreign Ministry had to backtrack on their statement that a Saudi diplomat had not been re-called but had gone back for routine reasons.

We know nothing ever goes wrong in LoS but do spokespeople never consider the consequences of opening their mouth too quickly ?

Apparently not.

So, which official, is telling the truth....personally I believe it was a stuff up, considering that a training exercise was already taking place. But now we are in "face saving" mode, blame it on a hoax" caller. Ever tried to fine a number to call for AoT Phuket...good luck.

You may well be right about a stuff up and a good, or should it be bad, example of the right hand and the left hand ?

I have previous experience of many emergency type exercises and a code word was always used for any communication to distinguish between the exercise and any genuine incident and no member of the public was involved. Staff from other govt depts were used depending on the exercise but were well briefed as to their role.

If this is now a face saving exercise it just about sums up the mentality of Thai officialdom.

Less than two years ago, they held a tsunami emergency exercise...any fool would know you need comms between all departments of government, just what, all had different frequencies. In other words, no-one knew what was going on.