The Defense Minister visited Suvarnabhumi Airport to reinforce military personnel assisting with luggage management and passenger facilitation, discussed support plans with AOT, and emphasized ongoing communication to reduce travel disruptions.
On 28 Sep 2026 GMT+7, Lieutenant General Adul Boonthamcharoen, Defense Minister, accompanied by Air Chief Marshal Anurak Romanarak, Air Force Chief of Staff, visited Suvarnabhumi Airport to monitor military personnel supporting internal airport operations, including luggage handling, passenger assistance, and essential mission support to ensure continuous public service and travel.
During the visit, the Defense Minister met with executives from Airports of Thailand Public Company Limited (AOT) and Suvarnabhumi Airport management to review the situation and support requirements. They jointly planned personnel deployment aligned with mission needs and critical points, emphasizing systematic integration between military units and airport staff to minimize impact and maximize assistance to the public and travelers.
The Defense Minister also stressed the importance of continuous communication to raise awareness and understanding of the situation. Relevant agencies were instructed to coordinate information consistently and provide passengers and the public with accurate, prompt, and timely updates on problem resolution progress, services, and travel advice. This enables people to plan and adapt appropriately, reducing confusion and concerns that might arise.
For Air Force support, a total of 100 personnel were deployed, including 69 from the Air Force Security Regiment, 23 from Wing 41 in Chiang Mai Province, and 8 from Wing 46 in Phitsanulok Province, to assist with passenger luggage management and passenger facilitation within Suvarnabhumi Airport.
Meanwhile, the Army deployed 31 personnel from the Territorial Defense Command to support in-flight kitchen operations, reinforcing critical areas and ensuring airport service systems continue without interruption.
The combined military personnel from the Army and Air Force supporting this mission total 131. The Ministry of Defense stands ready to adjust and add personnel based on the airport’s situation and needs to ensure support aligns with essential tasks and maximizes public benefit.
The Defense Minister encouraged all personnel and staff involved, emphasizing that the military’s mission in this situation is to promptly provide available capabilities and personnel to assist agencies needing help, particularly Suvarnabhumi Airport, which is a key national infrastructure and gateway for travel.
The Ministry of Defense and the armed forces are coordinating closely with AOT and Suvarnabhumi Airport on personnel deployment, management, and public communication. They will continuously monitor the situation and assess needs to ensure effective luggage management, service provision, and passenger facilitation, alongside raising awareness and understanding through accurate, timely information. This aims to reduce impact on the public and support uninterrupted travel through Suvarnabhumi Airport.