In a reminder you should not believe everything you read/hear on the Internet, Thai officials are telling passengers/visitors to the airport, no, there was not an attempted hijacking at Bangkok’s Suvarnabhumi Airport this week.
The denial came after an old video was posted on a Channel 8 News’ (ข่าวสดช่อง 8) Facebook page on Monday showing an attempted hijacking at Suvarnabhumi. (The page is NOT affiliated with Thailand’s Channel 8 News, but is a fake account posting old videos from various sources).
The post came with the heading “Suvarnabhumi Airport in chaos! A deranged man, hallucinating from drug use, stormed the parking area and attempted to hijack an airplane. He may face charges….”
Video of an event that took place in May, 2022
Unfortunately for the administrators of the page, it was not clarified that the potential hijacking incident occurred back in May, 2022. So, yes, almost four years ago.
I say “unfortunately” as due to the Facebook account disseminating what is technically fake news, or news meant to alarm, the airport now plans to take legal action against the person/people running the account.
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Especially as more than 1,400 people shared the video, and almost 15,000 left comments about it, sparking others to worry about flying in or out of Suvarnabhumi Airport.
And yes, a couple of days after the video was posted, it is still accessible on Facebook.
A stupid decision on the part of the Facebook page’s administrator as under Thailand’s Computer Crime Act. the person/people involved could be liable for up to a 100,000 baht fine and a maximum of a five year prison sentence.
The Suvarnabhumi Airport attempted hijacking, May 3rd, 2022
Meanwhile, back in 2022, Suvarnabhumi Airport’s official Facebook account informed the public about the situation soon after it happened, explaining:
Suvarnabhumi Airport clarifies the facts regarding an intruder entering the airport area.
Security personnel were able to subdue and apprehend the intruder. The intruder has been arrested and charged with trespassing and using a weapon that may endanger the airport. Mr. Kittipong Kittikhachorn, Director of Suvarnabhumi Airport, Airports of Thailand Public Company Limited (AOT), revealed that today (May 3, 2022) at approximately 11:50 AM, an outsider riding a motorcycle, carrying a weapon, violated security measures and trespassed into a restricted area within the airport area.
Upon receiving the report, the Suvarnabhumi Airport Security Center monitored the perpetrator via CCTV cameras and notified security personnel to patrol and apprehend the intruder. Due to the intruder’s weapon, officers had to use force to control the situation.
The intruder was apprehended at 12:03 PM and handed over to the police before attempting to flee onto the aircraft boarding bridge. The intruder is a 34-year-old Thai male and was intoxicated from drug use at the time of arrest. Officers confiscated a replica handgun as evidence.
Mr. Kittipong stated that the incident, involving sharp objects (an iron axe and scissors) and one methamphetamine pill, did not affect passenger services or flights. Airport security personnel responded promptly and according to procedure.
Because the perpetrator was armed, both the perpetrator and security personnel sustained minor injuries and received initial medical treatment. The perpetrator has been apprehended by the police.
In addition to trespassing into a restricted area within the airport, the perpetrator will also face charges under Section 19 of the Air Navigation Act B.E. 2558 (2015) for using weapons or other materials to commit acts that may or likely endanger airport security, which carries a severe penalty including the death penalty, life imprisonment, or imprisonment from fifteen to twenty years, and a fine of six hundred thousand to eight hundred thousand baht.
A video taken from CCTV footage was also released at the time (see below) featuring the man riding into Suvarnabhumi Airport on a motorbike, and then leading security officials on a chase around the airport before being captured.
Yes, Suvarnabhumi Airport behaved responsibly at the time the incident occurred. A pity the person running the fake Channel 8 News Facebook page has not.
