A 70-year-old German man was arrested at Suvarnabhumi International Airport yesterday after allegedly making a hoax bomb threat on a flight bound for Chiang Rai.
Ernst Gunter Waiter was taken to the police station at the airport in Samut Prakan after he said there was a bomb hidden inside his carry-on luggage on THAI Smile flight WE 132.
The flight was scheduled to depart at 10.50am and arrive at Mae Fah Luang-Chiang Rai International Airport around noon but was delayed by 41 minutes.
According to crew members, Mr Waiter, who had booked seat 43H, told them to remain silent as he pointed to his belongings in the overhead rack and said, "Boom."
The crew informed the captain and the bag was seized for examination in compliance with airport security measures while Mr Waiter was detained.
Authorities determined it was a hoax as no explosive devices were found.
Mr Waiter has been charged with breaching Section 22 of the Certain Offences Against Air Navigation Act 2015.
Those who give false statements or information that can scare the public at an airport can face up to five years, a fine of up to 200,000 baht or both.