Safety checks are to be carried out on all moving walkways at Bangkok’s Don Mueang airport, after a woman lost part of her leg yesterday morning at 8.40am, June 29.
The Bangkok Post reports that the female passenger was using the walkway in the airport’s domestic terminal when she apparently tripped over her suitcase as it came to the end of the 27 year old travellator. It’s believed the force of the fall opened the walkway’s yellow safety cover and the woman was pulled into its internal mechanism. Following the incident, Airports of Thailand has ordered inspections on all travellators at Don Mueang.
According to AoT president, Kerati Kijmanawat, the incident took place at around 8.40am yesterday. The female passenger was due to board a flight to the southern province of Nakhon Si Thammarat, when she fell between Gates 4 and 5.
According to the Bangkok Post, a medical team at the airport had to amputate the woman’s left leg above the knee, before the was then taken to hospital. She was then rushed to Bhumibol Adulyadej Hospital for additional treatment, before being transferred to Bumrungrad International Hospital.
Kerati says all medical expenses are being covered by AoT, with the airport operator apologising for the incident and saying it will compensate the victim. An investigation has been launched to determine if the accident occurred as a result of negligence or the walkway malfunctioning.
Don Mueang airport director Karant Thanakuljeerapat says all walkways at the airport were switched off following the incident. He says the travellator in question had just been inspected on June 21, as part of routine maintenance checks that take place every 3 months.
He adds that Hitachi, the Japanese company who made the walkway, which has been operational since 1996, has been informed of the incident.
An upgrade of all travellators at the airport was planned for 2025, but AoT says this will now be brought forward to the next fiscal year in light of yesterday’s incident.
SOURCE: Bangkok Post
