AsyncTask doInBackground does not run [duplicate]

Removing the AsyncTask and using a traditional Thread instead of combining it with runOnUiThread seems to work. But I still have not found the reason why the AsyncTask is so “unstable”.

Here is the code that works for me:

public class ImageActivity extends Activity {

    private Thread worker;

    public void onCreate(Bundle bundle) {
        super.onCreate(bundle);
        setContentView(R.layout.main);

        worker = new Thread(new Runnable(){

            private void updateUI(final List<Object> list)
            {
                if(worker.isInterrupted()){
                    return;
                }
                runOnUiThread(new Runnable(){

                    @Override
                    public void run()
                    {
                        // Update view and remove loading spinner etc...
                    }
                });
            }

            private List<Object> download()
            {
                // Simulate download
                SystemClock.sleep(1000);
                return new ArrayList<Object>();
            }

            @Override
            public void run()
            {
                Log.d(TAG, "Thread run()");
                updateUI(download());
            }

        });
        worker.start(); }

    @Override
    protected void onDestroy()
    {
        super.onDestroy();
        worker.interrupt();
    }
}