A broken suitcase wheel may have been behind last week’s shocking incident at Don Mueang Airport, with a woman losing part of her leg after it became stuck in a moving walkway. However, the Engineering Institute of Thailand says inspections are ongoing, with no formal conclusion reached yet.
According to a Bangkok Post report, EIT adviser Boonpong Kijwatanachai says if a suitcase wheel got stuck, it could have broken the walkway’s comb, which would have created a wide enough gap in the moving walkway for the woman’s leg to fall in.
The blame game has already started with the AoT director already trying to shift the blame on the manufacturers of the walkway (which was installed 27 years ago).
Meanwhile, the EIT’s Boonpong says until the devastating incident occurred on Thursday, June 29, the walkway was operating normally. The automatic sliding was intact and had been subject to regular maintenance checks. He adds that maintenance workers checked the system every day before it went into operation.
The EIT has also advised people to refrain from using mobile phones while on escalators and moving walkways, but says there is no cause for alarm. It says the travellators and escalators are designed to European standards.
According to the Bangkok Post, the superintendent of Don Mueang Police says officers are speaking to all related individuals from last week’s incident. Adirek Tongkeamkeaw adds that the police are also awaiting test results from forensics officers and plan to speak to the maintenance company.
Meanwhile, the female passenger who had to have part of her leg amputated, is still being treated at Bumrungrad International Hospital. According to the report, her son has expressed concern for her mental health, adding that a team of psychiatrists is assisting his mother.
SOURCE: Bangkok Post
