"Thai Airways' CEO has ordered the establishment of a disciplinary and fact-finding committee to reach a conclusion within seven days regarding a female flight attendant detained in Australia after heroin was found. He acknowledged that this incident damages Thai Airways' reputation and may cause inconvenience for others traveling to Australia." Tags: [Thai Airways, drug incident, investigation, Australia, flight attendant, airline reputation, travel restrictions]
On 29 June 2026, Mr. Chai Iamsiri, CEO of Thai Airways Public Company Limited, stated that following reports of a crew member transporting illegal substances on a flight from Thailand to Australia, detected by a sniffer dog inspecting luggage, the company admits the crew member did commit the offense. The legal process will proceed accordingly, with no interference from the airline, leaving it to Australian police authorities. The company is fully prepared to cooperate with relevant agencies.
Regarding the company's response, Thai Airways has immediately suspended the crew member from duty. Simultaneously, it has established a committee to investigate the facts and conduct disciplinary inquiries, aiming to conclude within seven days or sooner. Should the findings confirm wrongdoing, the company will impose the maximum penalty of dismissal. The CEO acknowledged that this incident has caused significant damage and harmed the airline's reputation.
"I admit that this incident severely damages Thai Airways' reputation and will likely make it more difficult or complicated for crew members and Thai travelers entering Australia in the future. However, I believe countries will judge individuals separately rather than based on one case. Moreover, I emphasize that Thai Airways already has strict and rigorous rules. Following this incident, I have instructed all departments to enforce stricter controls and oversight. Some aspects can be challenging to monitor because the airline has over 4,000 crew members and more than 1,000 pilots. Before flights, everyone receives briefings on rules, prohibitions, and illegal substances. Everyone understands what is permitted or forbidden by law, so each person must take responsibility for their actions," said Mr. Chai.