The THAI board held an emergency meeting and suspended Chai Iamsiri, CEO of Thai Airways, over the baggage backlog issue, appointing Samrit Samniang as acting CEO.
On 2 October 2026, Lornan Saengsanit, Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Finance and chairman of the board of Thai Airways Public Company Limited, called an urgent board meeting at Suvarnabhumi Airport to establish a committee to investigate corruption and the failings of Chai Iamsiri, the airline’s CEO.
The case involved failures in managing flight operations, ground services, and cargo handling for both inbound and outbound shipments at the airport, resulting in chaos and a backlog of tens of thousands of passenger bags, along with numerous cargo items stuck at the airport’s cargo building.
Initially, the THAI board resolved to suspend CEO Chai Iamsiri following the large-scale passenger and baggage backlog caused by flooding in Bangkok and nearby areas, appointing Samrit Samniang, a THAI board member, as acting CEO in the interim.
Chai stated he will continue serving as a company director until his employment contract expires on 31 January 2027.
The latest reports indicate that Thai Airways is intensifying flight management efforts and mobilizing all sectors to prepare for full service on 3 October 2026.
On 1 and 2 October, the company reduced flights by 15 and 9 respectively, aligning with its operational capacity.
Additionally, the company will open a ticket office at its headquarters on Vibhavadi Rangsit Road on Saturday and Sunday, 3 and 4 October 2026, from 08:00 to 17:00, to provide additional support channels for affected passengers.