An Air India flight en route from Phuket to New Delhi made an emergency landing on Friday morning after a bomb threat was reported mid-air, prompting swift evacuation of all passengers.
Flight AI379, carrying 156 passengers, departed Phuket Airport at 9:30 AM local time and was scheduled to arrive in the Indian capital. However, shortly after takeoff, the crew received an alert of a potential bomb onboard. Following standard emergency procedures, the aircraft looped over the Andaman Sea and returned to Phuket.
An official from Airports of Thailand (AOT) confirmed that all passengers were safely evacuated upon landing. “All 156 passengers have been safely escorted off the aircraft in accordance with emergency protocols,” the AOT said in a statement. Thai authorities are currently investigating the threat, though no further details have been released. The airline has yet to issue an official comment on the incident.
The bomb threat comes less than 24 hours after a tragic Air India crash in Ahmedabad claimed the lives of more than 240 passengers and crew. The London-bound Boeing 787-8 aircraft crashed minutes after takeoff from Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel International Airport on Thursday, sending shockwaves across the country and raising renewed questions about aviation safety and preparedness.
Though the two incidents are not currently believed to be connected, Friday’s emergency landing has heightened concerns among air travellers and authorities alike.
(With inputs from multiple news reports)
Air India Flight AI-171, a Boeing 787-8 Dreamliner en route from Ahmedabad to London Gatwick, crashed shortly after take-off on June 12, 2025. The crash occurred near the BJ Medical College hostel mess in the Meghani Nagar area of Ahmedabad, just 5 km from the airport runway.
There were 242 people on board the flight, including 230 passengers and 12 crew members. The flight carried 169 Indian nationals, 53 British nationals, 1 Canadian national, and 7 Portuguese nationals.
Air India confirmed 241 deaths. There was only one survivor, Vishwas Kumar Ramesh, who was seated in A11 and is currently under medical care. At least five on-ground fatalities have also been reported, including medical students and residents at BJ Medical College.
The sole survivor is Vishwas Kumar Ramesh, an Indian national who was travelling with his brother. He was rescued from the wreckage and is receiving treatment at Ahmedabad Civil Hospital.
The exact cause is under investigation. The pilots issued a Mayday call shortly after takeoff, but contact was lost soon after. Reports suggest the plane was fully fueled with over 1.25 lakh litres of aviation fuel, contributing to the explosion upon impact.
This marks the first-ever fatal crash involving a Boeing 787 Dreamliner, a model known for long-haul comfort and fuel efficiency.
