A group of overzealous fans caused major disruption at Bangkok’s Suvarnabhumi Airport after chasing a Chinese celebrity through restricted areas, resulting in 22 passengers being denied boarding on a Thai Airways flight to Beijing.
The incident unfolded at around 11pm on July 29 when the fans allegedly followed the celebrity into an airline lounge despite not having access privileges. Airline staff sought help from airport security officers, who escorted the group out of the lounge.
However, the fans reportedly continued trailing the celebrity through the terminal, creating further disturbances as they moved towards the departure gate.
Fans Allegedly Tried to Board Flight Together
According to Suvarnabhumi Airport, the situation escalated at the boarding document checkpoint when the group allegedly refused to cooperate with boarding pass inspections.
Instead, they attempted to rush through security in an effort to board the same aircraft as the celebrity.
Airport officials said the fans even followed the performer towards the boarding bridge. To prevent unauthorised passengers from entering the aircraft, Thai Airways temporarily closed the aircraft door while security officers and airline staff redirected the group back to the departure waiting area.
Following the incident, Thai Airways made the decision to deny boarding to all 22 members of the group, citing their failure to comply with aviation security procedures and airline regulations.
Flight Delayed After Some Refused to Remove Luggage
The disruption also caused delays to the Beijing-bound flight.
Airport officials said 12 of the affected passengers agreed to have their checked baggage removed from the aircraft. However, the remaining 10 reportedly refused to cooperate with the baggage removal process.
Authorities added that several passengers expressed anger over the decision and allegedly provoked airport security officers while the situation was being managed.
An altercation later broke out during the operation, with videos of the confrontation quickly spreading across social media platforms.
Airport Apologises After Viral Video
While Suvarnabhumi Airport defended its officers for intervening to maintain passenger safety and ensure the secure operation of the flight, it acknowledged that some security personnel displayed inappropriate behaviour during the incident.
The airport issued a public apology after one viral video appeared to show a security officer making a racist gesture while responding to the crowd.
The director of the airport’s Security Department has since ordered disciplinary action against the officers involved.
Airport management also pledged to review existing security procedures, improve staff training and strengthen oversight to prevent similar incidents from occurring in future while maintaining passenger safety and customer service standards.