Suvarnabhumi Airport implemented its emergency plan in response to a bomb threat made by a passenger on a Thai VietJet Airlines flight. The incident did not affect airport operations.
On September 26, 2024, airport director Kittipong Kittikhachorn reported that at 2:18 PM, a threat was communicated about a bomb on flight VZ961 from Da Nang, Vietnam, carrying 121 passengers, including one infant, and a crew of six.
The airport’s situation assessment triggered the implementation of its bomb threat response plan, coordinating with various government and private agencies, including security, fire, rescue, and medical teams to manage the situation promptly.
The aircraft was moved to an isolated parking position, and passengers along with the crew were evacuated immediately.
Passengers were taken to the fire and rescue station to wait, where security personnel conducted body and baggage searches and the Explosive Ordnance Disposal (EOD) team thoroughly inspected all luggage and the aircraft, revealing no explosive items.
At 4:31 PM, the emergency plan was lifted, and Thai VietJet returned passengers and crew to normal arrival procedures. The incident had no effect on airport service operations.
Kittipong further disclosed that the threat originated from a female passenger of Polish nationality who claimed there was a bomb on the aircraft. This individual was handed over to police for further investigation and legal action.
According to the Aviation Offenses Act of 2015, anyone intentionally causing panic on an aircraft can face up to 5 years in prison or fines up to 200,000 baht. If the panic jeopardizes flight safety, the penalties increase to 5 to 15 years in prison and fines ranging from 200,000 to 600,000 baht.
Suvarnabhumi Airport reaffirms its commitment to maintaining high safety standards and ensuring passenger confidence. For more information, the public can contact the AOT Contact Center at 1722 available 24/7.
This article was rewritten from a Thairath’s news article.
