A Thai couple were arrested after a bomb scare delayed a Suvarnabhumi-bound Thai AirAsia flight at Krabi airport for about four hours on Sunday evening.
It happened as flight AIQ 4401, an Airbus A320 bound for Suvarnabhumi airport, was reversing out of its parking bay ahead of takeoff.
As a flight attendant was helping a Thai couple, aged 46 and 43, store their take-on bags in an overhead bin, they warned the attendant to beware of a bomb.
The comment sparked alarm and was immediately reported to the plane's captain.
Even though the couple said they were only teasing the flight attendant, the aircraft was removed to a remote parking bay. All passengers were disembarked and luggage unloaded from the plane for examination.
The examination was completed about 8pm on Sunday and the flight took off about 9pm. The flight was delayed for four hours and 15 minutes. No bomb was found.
Krabi police said the couple were travelling in a group of about 30 who were returning to Bangkok. They were charged with making a false statement causing fear, affecting flight safety and causing damage to the airline and other passengers.
Their names were not made public.
