A routine flight departure from Udon Thani Airport turned into a high-security alert Thursday night after airport staff discovered explosive residue in an abandoned bag left behind by a Swedish passenger.

Suspicious bag found at the side of main Sukhumvit Road

The incident unfolded when 58-year-old M. E. P. boarded an AirAsia flight to Bangkok’s Suvarnabhumi Airport but failed to take his carry-on bag with him. Alert cleaners noticed the unattended luggage and immediately notified authorities.

What began as a standard lost-and-found case escalated dramatically when explosive detection swabs tested positive for triacetone triperoxide (TATP) – a volatile compound notorious for its use in terrorist bombs. The discovery triggered a full emergency response, with Royal Thai Air Force bomb disposal teams rushing to the scene and deploying a blast containment chamber as a precaution.

Swede sparks bomb scare at Udon Thani Airport. Bag had herbs, not explosives. Man detained in Bangkok.
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“The passenger became very uncooperative when we contacted him,” revealed Udon Thani police superintendent Colonel Phattanawong Chanphon. Security personnel at Suvarnabhumi subsequently detained the Swedish man upon landing for questioning.

In a surprising twist, further inspection found no actual explosives – just clothing and dried Thai herbs. Airport director Thipawan Wangsanuwat suggested the positive reading likely came from “clothes exposed to fireworks or other explosive materials.”

The Swedish national claimed a friend had packed the bag for him. While the all-clear was eventually given, the incident highlights the extreme vigilance at Thailand’s regional airports, where security protocols successfully identified and contained a potential threat within hours.

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Authorities continue investigating how traces of the dangerous chemical came to contaminate the luggage, with M. E. P. remaining under scrutiny. The case serves as a sobering reminder of the constant security challenges facing global air travel.

-Thailand News (TN)