S'porean man arrested for allegedly making fake bomb threat at Bangkok airport

A Singaporean man was arrested for allegedly making a false bomb threat at Bangkok’s Don Mueang International Airport on Nov. 22.

The man, surnamed Ho, was also found to have overstayed his visa for 28 days.

He will be blacklisted from entering the country.

Made false bomb threat which grounded plane at Bangkok

Police lieutenant general Choengron Rimpadee, speaking for the Thai immigration bureau, told Thai media that at 2:47pm on Nov. 22, an airport official received an anonymous telephone call claiming that there was an explosive on an AirAsia plane departing to Hat Yai in Southern Thailand.

In response, the airport stopped the take-off of flight FD 3114, with 162 passengers and six crew members aboard, which was bound for Hat Yai.

As part of emergency protocols, all passengers were required to disembark for screening while the aircraft was brought back to its bay for inspection.

After no suspicious objects were found on the aircraft or on passengers, the emergency protocols were lifted at 7:30pm.

Said he was stressed from family problems

Ho was subsequently tracked down via his phone signal, which was within the airport premises, Choengron said.

He was apprehended at the airport’s passenger terminal around 7pm.

When arrested, Ho confessed to making the false threat but said he did so as he was stressed from family problems.

Ho was found to have entered Thailand using an APEC card, but had overstayed his visa period by 28 days, The Nation Thailand reported.

He has no prior criminal record.

Blacklisted from entering Thailand

Ho was sent to Don Mueang police station to be charged with overstaying in Thailand.

Under Thai law, Ho faces a potential jail sentence or a fine of up to 600,000 baht (S$23,421) for making false statements that cause panic at airports.

“Following his prosecution and completion of any sentence, Mr. Ho will be deported and permanently blacklisted from entering Thailand,” said police lieutenant general Choengron as reported by Khaosod English.

Choengron added that Ho could also face civil lawsuits from the airport, the airline, and the affected passengers.

Top image from Khaosod English