Flight attendant concealing heroin Suvarnabhumi Airport Director clarifies the baggage X-ray screening in the case of the "flight attendant concealing heroin," affirming that the airport conducts strict inspections according to ICAO standards and is coordinating with the Office of the Narcotics Control Board (ONCB) to increase screening intensity.
Regarding reports that a Thai Airways crew member was caught smuggling heroin while flying from Thailand to Australia after a sniffer dog detected anomalies in the baggage, Thai Airways' Director of Flight Operations has ordered a fact-finding and disciplinary investigation to be concluded within 7 days, as previously reported.Read more: Flight attendant caught concealing heroin suspended; 7-day deadline set for investigation)
On 29 Jun 2026 GMT+7, Mr. Kittipong Kittikachorn, Director of Suvarnabhumi Airport, confirmed that Airports of Thailand Public Company Limited has strict measures for screening passengers traveling in and out of Suvarnabhumi Airport, following standards set by the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) and the Civil Aviation Authority of Thailand (CAAT) in line with global safety standards.
Regarding concerns about inspections for illegal items or foreign objects that could compromise the safety of flights or passengers on each flight, he explained that the outbound passenger screening at Suvarnabhumi Airport complies with global ICAO and CAAT standards. At check-in, X-ray machines scan for foreign objects such as metals or liquids that might pose safety risks to the flight.
Therefore, X-ray screening may not detect narcotics like heroin because they are not packed in large clumps. However, if the Office of the Narcotics Control Board (ONCB) coordinates with the airport, special inspections will be conducted.
Inbound screening at all airports follows different standards than outbound because each country sets its own rules regarding prohibited items such as food, plants, or animals, so inspections vary accordingly. Meanwhile, Suvarnabhumi Airport maintains stringent screening per ICAO standards, including X-rays and sniffer dogs, as well as alerts from origin points if a passenger is suspected of irregularities.