Bangkok: Suvarnabhumi Airport has provided a comprehensive explanation regarding the incident involving 22 passengers, fans of a Chinese artist, who were denied boarding on a Thai Airways flight. The decision was made due to concerns over potential disturbances on board, following violations of security measures by the fan group.
According to Thai News Agency, the incident occurred on July 29, 2026, at 11:00 PM when the fans, traveling on Thai Airways flight TG 674 to Beijing, tried to follow the artist into unauthorized areas within the airport. The fans entered the passenger lounge without permission, prompting Thai Airways staff to request security intervention. Security personnel escorted the fans out of the lounge as they continued to cause disturbances up to the passenger waiting area.
At the immigration checkpoint, the fan group refused to cooperate with boarding pass checks and attempted to bypass security to follow the artist onto the plane. The airline staff had to close the aircraft doors temporarily to prevent the fans, who had not undergone final checks, from entering. The situation led to a flight delay as security personnel, along with airline staff, managed to push the fans back to the waiting area.
As a result of their non-compliance with security measures and regulations, airline staff decided not to allow the 22 fans to board the aircraft. This decision was made to avoid potential disturbances during the flight. Twelve fans agreed to have their luggage offloaded, while ten expressed dissatisfaction and engaged in provocative behavior, resulting in a confrontation captured in a video circulating on social media.
Suvarnabhumi Airport acknowledged inappropriate behavior by some security officers during the incident. Air Commodore Chananat Rodkul, Director of Security at BKK, announced disciplinary action against the officers involved. He emphasized the importance of adhering to operational standards and treating passengers with respect. The incident will be reviewed to improve management and oversight guidelines, ensuring similar situations are prevented in the future. BKK apologized for the incident and reiterated its commitment to maintaining high security and service standards.