Thai Airways board resigns

BANGOK, Thailand (CNN) -- The 15-member board of Thai Airways International resigned en masse Thursday at an emergency meeting, an airline official told CNN.

The meeting was held after Thailand's national carrier was targeted by a bomb scare campaign earlier this week, prompting Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra to demand action.

Thai media reported Thursday the meeting was designed to move president Bhisit Kulasayanon to a consultant's position, and to appoint a new board and chairman.

Thai Airways was hit by two bomb threats that delayed flights to Europe on Monday and Wednesday.

According to a report on Thai website The Nation, Thaksin wanted a shakeup of top management because of its incompetence in handling the bomb threats and a rift between the pilots and the emeployees' union.

A spokeswoman told CNN the 15 board members had tendered their resignations at the meeting, and a media conference would be held later in the day.

Somchainuk Engtrakul, permanent secretary at the Finance Ministry (which is the airline's main shareholder), had been appointed acting president, AFP reported.