An Air India flight made an emergency landing in Thailand on Friday, just one day after another Air India aircraft crashed in Ahmedabad, killing nearly 300 people. The frightening incident has heightened concerns about airline safety in the region.

According to the Daily Mail, Flight AI 379 was traveling from Phuket to New Delhi when it received a bomb threat, forcing pilots to quickly return to the Thai holiday island. All 156 passengers were safely evacuated following emergency protocols.

The incident occurred less than 24 hours after the devastating crash of Air India's service from Ahmedabad to London Gatwick, which killed more than 290 people. These back-to-back events have rattled confidence in the airline and raised serious questions about aviation security across the region.

Emergency Response Protocol

Flight AI 379 departed Phuket airport at approximately 9:30 am local time on Friday but made a wide loop around the Andaman Sea before returning to the Thai island. Flight tracking data from Flightradar24 confirmed the aircraft's diverted path as it responded to the threat.

Airports of Thailand officials implemented emergency evacuation procedures immediately after landing. All passengers were removed from the aircraft while security teams conducted a thorough inspection of the plane and its cargo areas.

According to reports, no explosive device has been found on the aircraft, suggesting this may have been among the nearly 1,000 hoax bomb threats Indian airlines received in the past year. This represents almost ten times the number of threats reported in 2023, indicating a troubling trend in aviation security challenges.

Ahmedabad Tragedy Details

The emergency landing comes amid the ongoing rescue and recovery operations at the Ahmedabad crash site. The Boeing 787-8 Dreamliner carrying 242 passengers and crew members went down shortly after takeoff on Thursday, crashing into a residential area near the airport.

In what officials described as a miracle, one passenger - identified as Viswash Ramesh, who was seated in 11A by an exit - survived the devastating crash. His brother Ajay, seated in 11J, is believed to be among the victims. The passenger manifest included 53 British nationals, 159 Indian nationals, seven Portuguese citizens, and one Canadian.

Flight recordings revealed the plane's captain, Sumeet Sabharwal, desperately called "Mayday...no thrust, losing power, unable to lift" before the aircraft went down. Aviation experts suggest the Boeing 787 may have suddenly lost power "at the most critical phase of flight," possibly due to a rapid wind change or a bird strike leading to a double engine stall.

Investigation Underway

Officials from India's Aircraft Accident Investigation Bureau have been dispatched to the crash site to analyze wreckage and recover the aircraft's black box. The investigation will seek to determine whether mechanical failure, environmental factors, or other issues caused the deadly accident.

Videos shared on social media showed the plane rapidly losing altitude with its nose up before it struck a building and erupted in a violent explosion. The crash occurred in a densely populated residential area, complicating rescue efforts and potentially adding to the death toll.

Ahmedabad Police Commissioner GS Malik confirmed the single survivor, stating: "The police found one survivor in seat 11A. He has been taken to the hospital and is currently receiving treatment. As for the number of casualties, it's too early to confirm. The crash occurred in a residential area, so the death toll may rise."

Airline Safety Concerns

The bomb threat to Flight AI 379 has intensified scrutiny of airline security measures across India and neighboring countries. This incident follows what authorities describe as an alarming increase in security threats to Indian airlines over the past year.

Boeing, the manufacturer of the crashed 787 Dreamliner, issued a statement saying they are "working to gather more information" about the Ahmedabad incident. Sources close to the investigation noted this appears to be the first crash involving this aircraft model, which has generally maintained a strong safety record since entering service.

British Prime Minister Keir Starmer called the scenes from the crash "devastating" and expressed support for passengers and their families "at this deeply distressing time." The UK government has dispatched a team to assist with the investigation, reflecting the international impact of the disaster.