An Air India flight had to make an emergency landing following reports of a bomb threat one day after hundreds died in a fatal crash involving one of the airline's planes.

All 156 passengers on flight AI 379 had been escorted from the plane, in line with emergency plans, an Airports of Thailand official said. The aircraft took off from Phuket airport bound for the Indian capital at 9.

Rescuers searched for missing people and aircraft debris in charred buildings after more than 240 people were killed in an Air India plane crash.