For What Reason A Thai Flight Canceled?
You will not believe the reason why a Thai flight will canceled on Sunday... The damage was huge for the company...
A Thai flight was cancelled after a passenger made a joke about a bomb while loading his hand-carry in the overhead locker.
While a flight stewardess was helping him with his bag, 23-year-old Pichit Boondaeng told her to be careful, as there might be a bomb in his case, say local reports.
Several other reports also say he repeatedly made the joke.
The Lion Air stewardess alerted the captain, who canceled the afternoon domestic flight from Bangkok to Hai Yai, and ordered the passengers to disembark.
Boondaeng was later taken in for questioning at a police station at Bangkok's Don Mueang airport.
Boondaeng reportedly told the police that he made the joke in an attempt to flirt with the flight attendant.
Security experts found no explosives inside his bag.
While he faces up to five years in jail and a 200,000 baht (US$5,627) fine for a criminal charge of reporting false information, Lion Air also plans to sue him for a million baht (US$28,135) in damages for the flight cancellation.
Thai paper Khaosod said the pilot, Thammarot Chansawang, too is planning to file a lawsuit against Boondaeng.
While the Lion Air passengers later got on another evening flight, five travelers had to cancel their trip.
Boondaeng is out on a 75,000 baht (US$2,110) bond, and the civil suits will go to trial over the next six months.
This isn't the first time Lion Air has had trouble with bomb jokes. In April, a navy officer onboard a flight in Indonesia made a very similar joke while loading his baggage in the cabin. This time, the flight wasn't canceled, but the pilot ordered a re-screening of the entire plane and its passengers before it took off — without the naval officer.
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