A JET Airways flight from New Delhi to Bangkok’s Suvarnabhumi Airport got a bomb threat in the form of a message in a mobile phone which an Indian couple picked up from the airplane’s floor saying “don’t switch off the engine” but no explosion took place after the plane landed here last night, Thai News Agency said this morning (Sept. 21).
At 10 pm last night Suvarnabhumi Airport security officials were alerted that low-cost Jet Airways flight number 9W 066 flying from Indira Gandhi Airport in New Delhi to Suvarnabhumi Airport with 153 passengers on board had received a bomb threat and quickly made preparations with Explosive Ordnance Disposal (EOD) unit called in.
Siroj Duangrat, director of Suvarnabhumi Airport which is run by Airports of Thailand Plc, said he assessed the situation with the airline after which announced the use of emergency plan number 9 dealing with bomb threats.
Upon landing this airplane was directed to an isolated parking stand on the west side of the airport and all 153 passengers and 8 crew members were taken to a fire and emergency station where officers checked each passenger while EOD officers check every piece of luggage and the whole aircraft.
Meanwhile police took the Indian couple to the police station at the airport for questioning..
They told police that they picked up this mobile phone which had fallen on the floor of the plane and upon seeing the message “don’t switch off the engine” informed the crew before handing the phone to the captain. As the captain was worried that this plane would explode if he switched off the engine he informed Suvarnabhumi Airport officials to be prepared for this emergency.
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Top and inset: The Indian couple who said they picked up the mobile phone with the bomb threat message at Suvarnabhumi Airport police station where they were questioned. Photos: Thai News Agency
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