ID :
141328
Wed, 09/08/2010 - 18:52
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http://m.oananews.org//node/141328
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THAI statement: Flag carrier aircraft cleared to depart Los Angeles after apparent 'bomb hoax'
BANGKOK, Sept 8, 2010 - Hours after an apparent "bomb hoax" frightened and inconvenienced nearly 200 passengers and crew, a Thai Airways plane was cleared Wednesday to depart the Thai national flag carrier's prime US destination--Los Angeles airport--and return to the Thai capital's Suvarnabhumi airport after an apparent "bomb hoax", the airline said.
The United States Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) found no credible bomb threat to the THAI airliner, but the case is far from closed.
While the US national police agency found no evidence of an actual bomb, making such a threat is a serious crime punishable under Thai, US and international law. The Thai Airways aircraft landed safely at Los Angeles International Airport at about 11am Bangkok time after a bomb threat message was found in an on-board toilet while the aircraft was one hour away from landing.
"Investigators who conducted a thorough search of the aircraft, including passenger luggage and cargo, found no evidence to suggest there is a credible threat to the aircraft," FBI spokeswoman Laura Eimiller was quoted by Agence France Presse news agency (AFP) as saying.
Meanwhile, Ampon Kittiampon, Thai Airways International (THAI) Chairman of the Board of Directors disclosed details of the bomb threat on Los Angeles-bound TG 794 flight which departed Bangkok at 7.30pm Tuesday with 171 passengers, 14 crew and four pilots.
He said cabin crew found the bomb threat message in a toilet and alerted the captain, who followed safety procedures by informing flight operations at THAI's Bangkok head office and the local office in Los Angeles to be prepared for an emergency upon landing.
THAI’s Crisis Management Operations Center met urgently with agencies concerned and the plane landed safely at 10.51am (Thailand time).
Security officials and police in Los Angles screened passengers and inspected the plane thoroughly and have found no irregularities so far, he said.
The centre is compiling security information on the fight and will present it to security officials. The company will reveal the result of the investigation after it is finished.
After the landing, THAI president Piyasvasti Amranand was interviewed by the Associated Press in Singapore who said that the message was written in English using bad grammar-- warning that a bomb was on the plane.
Government spokesman Panitan Wattanayagorn said the initial investigation indicated that the bomb threat was not linked to the extradition of alleged Russian arms dealer Viktor Bout to the US--which is still in process--or to any domestic political problem.
Preventive measures will be stepped up, but the incident is believed to have no impact on the business sector and passenger confidence in the national flag carrier, he said.
As the threat was carried out in the international airspace, it is deemed to be a crime and in violation of international law. Officials will speed up the investigation, Dr Panitan said. (MCOT online news)
The United States Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) found no credible bomb threat to the THAI airliner, but the case is far from closed.
While the US national police agency found no evidence of an actual bomb, making such a threat is a serious crime punishable under Thai, US and international law. The Thai Airways aircraft landed safely at Los Angeles International Airport at about 11am Bangkok time after a bomb threat message was found in an on-board toilet while the aircraft was one hour away from landing.
"Investigators who conducted a thorough search of the aircraft, including passenger luggage and cargo, found no evidence to suggest there is a credible threat to the aircraft," FBI spokeswoman Laura Eimiller was quoted by Agence France Presse news agency (AFP) as saying.
Meanwhile, Ampon Kittiampon, Thai Airways International (THAI) Chairman of the Board of Directors disclosed details of the bomb threat on Los Angeles-bound TG 794 flight which departed Bangkok at 7.30pm Tuesday with 171 passengers, 14 crew and four pilots.
He said cabin crew found the bomb threat message in a toilet and alerted the captain, who followed safety procedures by informing flight operations at THAI's Bangkok head office and the local office in Los Angeles to be prepared for an emergency upon landing.
THAI’s Crisis Management Operations Center met urgently with agencies concerned and the plane landed safely at 10.51am (Thailand time).
Security officials and police in Los Angles screened passengers and inspected the plane thoroughly and have found no irregularities so far, he said.
The centre is compiling security information on the fight and will present it to security officials. The company will reveal the result of the investigation after it is finished.
After the landing, THAI president Piyasvasti Amranand was interviewed by the Associated Press in Singapore who said that the message was written in English using bad grammar-- warning that a bomb was on the plane.
Government spokesman Panitan Wattanayagorn said the initial investigation indicated that the bomb threat was not linked to the extradition of alleged Russian arms dealer Viktor Bout to the US--which is still in process--or to any domestic political problem.
Preventive measures will be stepped up, but the incident is believed to have no impact on the business sector and passenger confidence in the national flag carrier, he said.
As the threat was carried out in the international airspace, it is deemed to be a crime and in violation of international law. Officials will speed up the investigation, Dr Panitan said. (MCOT online news)
