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PETALING JAYA: Air Asia has confirmed that there was a bomb threat made against one of its planes travelling from Bangkok to Phuket on Tuesday.
“We confirm there was a bomb threat against AirAsia Flight FD3003 on 26th August as reported and we have fully-co-operated with the Airport Authority of Thailand (AoT) who handled the case,” Air Asia said in an emailed statement to The Star Online on Thursday.
The flight landed safely at the Phuket International Airport (HKT) at 12.15pm, Tuesday.
The AoT said in a statement that HKT received a phone call of a bomb threat against AirAsia Flight FD 3003 after its departure from the Don Mueang Airport in Bangkok.
Upon receiving the threat, AoT confirmed that the Airbus A320-200 with 167 passengers, 4 crew members and 2 pilots, had departed at 10.55am from the airport.
“AoT then proceeded to enact its emergency procedures by designating an Isolated Parking Area for the flight and dispatching relevant agents to receive the aircraft,” said the statement.
A commanding officer at the scene led an Explosives Ordinance Division (EOD) unit and other related officers to inspect the plane’s luggage as per emergency protocols.
According to the AoT, the inspection did not turn up any suspicious objects as detailed in the threat.
It added that the airline and passengers of the flight were cooperative throughout the process and the plane was allowed to depart from HKT at 3.08pm.
It touched down at the Don Mueang Airport at 4.28pm.
“Initial checks have led authorities to believe the bomb threat was intended to stir confusion and harass travellers.
"The AoT has launched a full investigation into the matter,” said the statement.
According to a report on The Nation, the Thai national soccer players were among passengers on the flight.
They were scheduled to play warm-up matches against Myanmar, the Phuket Football Club and Qatar in preparation for the upcoming Asian Games in Incheon, South Korea.
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