Thailand, Bangkok – A controversy erupted at Suvarnabhumi International Airport in Bangkok recently due to Chinese fans’ star-chasing behavior. Some Chinese fans were seen chasing a Chinese artist in the airport terminal and refusing to board the plane, leading the airline to deny boarding to 22 individuals for safety reasons. Following the incident, the airport publicly apologized for the inappropriate enforcement of security measures and disciplined the individuals involved.
According to Bangkok Post citing Suvarnabhumi International Airport management, the incident occurred around 11 pm on July 29. A Chinese artist was boarding Thai Airways flight TG674 to Beijing that night, accompanied by a large group of Chinese fans holding tickets for the same flight, who followed the artist into the terminal.
Reportedly, some fans entered restricted areas within the terminal without authorization, prompting airline staff to seek security assistance to remove them. However, when the artist proceeded to the boarding gate for departure, the fans gathered again, rushed towards their idol, and even refused to have their boarding passes checked, causing a temporary chaos at the scene.
To prevent individuals who had not completed security procedures from boarding, the airline closed the boarding gates early and, with security assistance, escorted the fans gathered at the boarding gate back to the terminal area.
The airport authorities stated that the airline ultimately denied boarding to 22 fans who did not comply with boarding procedures and safety requirements, in accordance with flight safety regulations.
Of the 22 fans, 12 agreed to have their luggage unloaded and were rebooked, while the other 10 expressed dissatisfaction with the handling and provoked the staff on-site, leading to a confrontation during the process.
Suvarnabhumi International Airport emphasized that the primary responsibility of security personnel at the time was to ensure passenger safety and the normal operation of flights. However, an investigation found that some security personnel engaged in conduct during law enforcement that did not meet service standards and airport management requirements. As a result, they publicly apologized to the affected passengers and took disciplinary action against the security personnel involved.
Additionally, the airport stated that they would further strengthen training for security and service staff to enhance their ability to manage large-scale fan events and emergencies while maintaining public safety and order.
Just a few days ago, another dispute sparked by Chinese fans’ behavior during star-chasing occurred.
According to several Thai media reports, during a fan event organized by the Thai entertainment company GMMTV in Bangkok, a video of a physical confrontation between security personnel and a Chinese female fan circulated widely on social media, drawing public attention.
Initially, GMMTV publicly apologized and suspended the security personnel involved. However, they later released investigation results indicating that the female fan was accused of cutting in line and clashing with staff. The company acknowledged an initial misjudgment and reinstated the relevant security personnel.
This incident has sparked widespread discussions on fans’ “chasing” behavior, airport public order, and aviation safety management. As of now, Thai officials and relevant airlines have not publicly confirmed the identity of the Chinese artist involved in the Suvarnabhumi Airport incident.