At Don Mueang International Airport in Bangkok, Thailand, a 57-year-old woman had a freak accident resulting in her left leg amputating up to the kneecap.
The incident occurred in the morning of Thursday, June 29, in the domestic passenger terminal’s southern corridor. Karant Thanakuljeerapat, the airport’s director, reported at a news conference that the woman en route to Nakhon Si Thammarat was severely injured when her leg became stuck at the end of the moving walkway.
Medical personnel responded quickly and transported her to the closest hospital. However, her injuries were so severe that her leg had to be amputated. She was then sent to Bumrungrad International Hospital, receiving further care.
Her son, Krit Kittirattana, has spoken out on this incident on Facebook, expressing his heartbreak and his mother’s inner sorrow. He also requested to view the surveillance camera footage of the event. The airport director, Karant, assured Airports Of Thailand (AOT) would cover all medical expenses and compensate the woman.
The director of Don Mueang International Airport in Bangkok, Thailand, has suspended all service on the moving walkways. At the same time, an investigation is being conducted to uncover the cause of the incident. He said an impartial and transparent fact-finding committee may need to be formed with outsiders to help in the investigation. At this point, the director refrained from making any definitive conclusions.
According to Khaosod, a Thai news source, the tragic accident occurred after a suitcase hit her and caused her to fall, then got stuck into the travelator’s mechanism, leading to her being pulled in.
Don Mueang is one of two international airports in Bangkok and was the main airport in the city until the newer and larger Suvarnabhumi Airport opened in 2006.