Krabi, Thailand – Deputy Minister of Transport Phattrapong Phattraprasit has directed a comprehensive review and follow-up measures following a bomb threat hoax that severely disrupted a Thai AirAsia flight at Krabi International Airport on Sunday, April 26th, 2026.
The Deputy Minister, who has direct oversight of the Department of Airports, personally coordinated with Director-General Danai Ruangsorn and Krabi Airport’s director to ensure the incident was handled in full compliance with international aviation safety protocols.
The disruption began at approximately 4:47 p.m. when an Airbus A320 operating a flight to Suvarnabhumi Airport was preparing to depart. A passenger allegedly claimed to have an explosive device in their carry-on luggage, forcing the captain to abort the pushback and return the aircraft to the gate. Although the individual later admitted the remark was intended as a “joke,” standard security procedures mandated the immediate deplaning of all passengers and a complete inspection of the aircraft and baggage.
Authorities relocated the plane to isolated Bay 14, an emergency-designated area away from the main terminal, to allow specialized security teams to conduct a thorough sweep. The Department of Airports confirmed that the incident did not halt overall airport operations, with other flights continuing to arrive and depart on schedule.
After an extensive search, security personnel declared the aircraft clear of any explosives or suspicious items by 8:00 p.m. The flight finally departed at 9:00 p.m., resulting in a delay of more than four hours. The passenger responsible was detained and will face legal prosecution.
In a firm statement, Deputy Minister Phattrapong said that aviation safety remains the top priority and warned that any false statements capable of causing panic or disrupting operations, whether framed as jokes or not, will be pursued to the full extent of Thai law.
The incident serves as a reminder of the zero-tolerance policy toward aviation security threats in Thailand, where even hoax claims trigger costly and time-consuming emergency responses designed to protect passengers and crew.
