It’s been a tense 24 hours for anyone connected to air travel between India and Thailand.
Just a day after a tragic plane crash near Ahmedabad in India, another Air India flight faced a terrifying emergency—not because of an accident, but a bomb threat.
This tense incident unfolded on Flight AI 379, flying from the popular holiday spot Phuket in Thailand to India’s bustling capital, New Delhi.
Sudden Turnaround After Bomb Threat on Phuket Flight
The Air India flight took off from Phuket at 9:30 a.m. local time on Friday, but the journey was far from smooth.
Soon after leaving, the plane circled the west coast of the island before returning to land back at Phuket Airport within minutes.
Airport officials in Thailand confirmed that a bomb threat was received while the plane was in the air, prompting the emergency landing.
Passengers, 156 in total, were quickly evacuated according to strict safety protocols.
Thankfully, no explosive device was found on board.
This bomb threat came at a sensitive time, following the deadly crash of an Air India flight from Ahmedabad to London Gatwick just the day before.
The Ahmedabad Disaster Still Haunts Families and Authorities
While the Phuket flight drama unfolded, rescue efforts continued in Ahmedabad where tragedy struck on Thursday.
Over 290 lives were lost when an Air India Boeing 787 Dreamliner crashed shortly after takeoff.
The crash site was in a residential area of the busy Indian city, making the disaster even more devastating.
Amid the wreckage, emergency teams worked tirelessly, hoping for survivors.
In what many are calling a miracle, one passenger, Viswash Ramesh, seated near an exit, survived the horrific crash.
Sadly, his brother Ajay, sitting close by, did not make it.
The plane was carrying a diverse group of passengers, including 53 British nationals, 159 Indian citizens, several Portuguese, and a Canadian, with 11 children among them.
Harrowing Final Moments on Board
The flight’s captain, Sumeet Sabharwal, was a highly experienced pilot with over 8,000 flying hours.
Just moments before the crash, his desperate voice was heard declaring “Mayday… no thrust, losing power, unable to lift.”
Video footage shows the pilots struggling to control the aircraft as it rapidly lost altitude with its nose pointed skyward, before crashing into a building and exploding.
Aviation experts suggest the cause could have been a sudden loss of engine power, possibly due to severe wind shifts or a bird strike that caused both engines to stall at a critical phase shortly after takeoff.
Investigations and Response Underway
Indian authorities, including the Aircraft Accident Investigation Bureau, were promptly on the scene to collect evidence and recover the plane’s black box to understand exactly what went wrong.
Police confirmed that the lone survivor was receiving medical treatment, but warned that because the crash happened in a densely populated area, the casualty count might rise.
Eyewitnesses Describe Chaos and Horror
Residents near the crash site reported scenes of chaos and destruction.
Some witnessed people jumping from buildings to escape the flames sparked by the fiery crash.
Firefighters battled the blaze while bodies lay scattered around the site, leaving a grim picture of the disaster’s aftermath.
Official Reactions and Support for Victims
The UK government expressed deep sorrow over the loss of British nationals and sent a team to assist with the investigation.
British Prime Minister Keir Starmer described the scenes as “devastating” and extended condolences to families affected by the tragedy.
Meanwhile, Boeing, the manufacturer of the Dreamliner, confirmed they were gathering information and noted this was reportedly the first crash involving the 787 model.
Clearing the Wreckage and Looking Ahead
Police officials have worked throughout the night to clear the crash site, though the process of recovery and investigation is expected to take much longer.
For the families of those on board and the wider aviation community, the shock and sadness remain fresh as they await answers.