Passenger apologises for 'bomb joke' on Thai flight

A passenger whose joke about a bomb grounded a Thai Lion Air flight has apologised for his behaviour, even as the airline and his employer vowed more legal action, the media reported on Tuesday.

Thai Lion Air chief Aswin Yangkirativorn said the budget carrier's legal team was calculating how much was lost by the cancellation of flight SL8536 on Sunday and would sue to recover the total loss expense from Pichit Boondaeng, 23, The Bangkok Post reported.

Pichit, an employee with the State Railway of Thailand's mechanical engineering department, made headlines after he "teased" a Thai Lion Air flight attendant about a bomb possibly hidden in his carry-on bag as the flight was preparing to leave Bangkok's Don Mueang airport on Sunday.

The attendant told the aircraft's captain, who immediately cancelled the flight and ordered all passengers to disembark and caused the flight to be delayed for six hours, affecting hundreds of passengers.

Pichit said he made the bomb remark only to tease a female flight attendant who he thought was attractive.

"It is understood that the passenger was just teasing the flight attendant, but the airline's first priority is safety," Aswin said.

"As for the extent of the compensation, the legal team is looking into it. This incident should be taken as a lesson and an example case for other passengers," the chief added.