National —
Suvarnabhumi International Airport (BKK) recently explained an incident that they called a security oversight in which two airline passengers secretly took wild animals aboard. Airport management stated that a security officer did not perform a proper search of the passenger’s luggage.
Initially, on October 4th, 2023, two airline passengers secretly took pet rats and otters aboard a flight from BKK to the Taiwan Taoyuan International Airport (TPE). No one on the plane announced the ownership because it is illegal to have unregistered pets traveling abroad.
Airport security officers performed a luggage search on the flight delaying the landing time for an hour. The incident was discovered as some of the animals became loose on board and other passengers filmed them and posted the viral videos online.
BKK public relations stated about the incident that an airport security officer neglected their duty of thoroughly searching the luggage that was used to transport the unregistered pets. During the investigation of CCTVs, the airport officers found out that 2 unidentified foreign passengers brought the luggage in question through an X-ray machine at a security checkpoint.
The airport security officers on duty asked another unidentified senior officer to perform a search on the luggage that may contain alien objects, however, the unidentified officer did not act accordingly and let the foreign passengers go aboard.
BKK officials asserted their confidence in the technology used at airport security checkpoints which adhere to universal standards and strict measures. In this case, it was negligence to perform their duty on behalf of one of the employees.
An unidentified officer is currently being suspended and investigated for further punitive action.
After a further investigation, airport officers found that there was an illegal transport of wild animals, a total of 25, being kept in an unidentified owner’s luggage.
The airport management will conduct a further investigation to find the 2 foreign passengers.
