AOT Tightens Loy Krathong Festival Safety at 6 Airports, Bans Sky Lanterns and Fireworks with Severe Penalties

AOT is enforcing strict controls during the Loy Krathong festival at six airports, ordering a ban on releasing sky lanterns, lighting fireworks, and flying drones within a 9-kilometer radius. Violators face the maximum penalty of death. Airlines have already adjusted 265 flights between Chiang Mai and Chiang Rai.

AOT strictly prohibits releasing sky lanterns and lighting fireworks at six airports.

Airports of Thailand Public Company Limited (AOT) urges passengers and the public near the six main airports to refrain from releasing sky lanterns, lantern lights, smoke lanterns, lighting fireworks, firecrackers, rockets, fireworks displays, balloons, and unauthorized drone flights during the Loy Krathong festival from 23 to 25 November 2026.

The controlled areas cover Suvarnabhumi, Don Mueang, Chiang Mai, Mae Fah Luang Chiang Rai, Phuket, and Hat Yai airports, with a strict no-fly zone for drones within a 9-kilometer radius of each airport.

AOT states that objects released into the sky can pose serious dangers to aircraft, such as obscuring visibility, distracting pilots, or if sucked into engines or fuel tanks, potentially causing explosions and loss of aircraft control.

Legal penalties for violations with severe consequences include the death penalty.

Regarding aviation safety laws, any acts affecting or endangering aircraft safety during flight carry severe punishments under relevant laws as follows.

• If damage causes an aircraft to be unfit to fly or endangers flight safety, penalties include death, life imprisonment, or imprisonment from 15 to 20 years.
• Criminal fines range from 600,000 to 800,000 baht.
• Additionally, penalties apply under the Act concerning certain offenses against aviation and other related civil aviation regulations.

To prevent accidents in flight operation areas, AOT has ordered increased frequency of Foreign Object Debris (FOD) inspections on runways and taxiways to immediately clear any lantern debris or foreign objects that may drift into airside zones.

Chiang Mai and Chiang Rai adjust a total of 265 flights; passengers advised to allow 2-3 hours.

The impact of sky lantern activities in the north has led airlines to cooperate in revising flight plans at Chiang Mai (CNX) and Mae Fah Luang Chiang Rai (CEI) airports, totaling 265 flights (data as of 10 November 2026), detailed as follows.

• Chiang Mai Airport. 62 flights canceled, 90 flights rescheduled, and 57 special flights added.
• Mae Fah Luang Chiang Rai Airport. 56 flights rescheduled.

AOT recommends passengers traveling between 23–25 November 2026 closely monitor their flight status with airlines and allow at least 2–3 hours for travel to the airport to avoid delays from heavy festival traffic.

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