A passenger of a Thai VietJet flight from Bangkok to Krabi has claimed that items with a combined value of 600,000 Baht were stolen from a suitcase that was checked in with the airline at BKK Airport.
The passenger discovered that the suitcase was damaged and had been forced open upon arrival at Krabi when retrieving the suitcase from the baggage belt.
The airline as well the airport authorities (AOT) are investigating the case but have so far excluded the possibility that this alleged pilferage happened during security checks as the bag was not flagged for opening by security staff.
Several Thai news outlets including the Pattaya Mail reported that suitcase contained a cartier watch and a cartier bracelet among other things that are now missing.
Suvarnabhumi Airport has released details from its baggage handling system after a Thai Vietjet passenger reported that a suitcase was damaged and belongings worth around 600,000 baht were missing following flight VZ342 from Bangkok to Krabi on August 21. The airport said checks of its baggage system records and CCTV footage found that the suitcase passed through the airport’s security screening process normally. Its Explosives Detection System (EDS) recorded a “CLEAR” status, meaning no dangerous objects or explosive substances were detected. …
It’s well known that such valuables should not be placed inside checked baggage to avoid theft and baggage doesn’t always make it with you on the same flight. Yet this person ignored the common warnings and now items are allegedly missing.
Airports of Thailand released the following statement on its Facebook Page:
Suvarnabhumi Airport clarifies the case of damaged luggage and lost property. The inspection process of the airport’s responsibility found no abnormalities.
According to a passenger published information on social media that they traveled on flight VZ342 from Suvarnabhumi airport to Krabi province on 21 August 2569 and later found that the luggage bag had been opened and damaged, as well as the property inside was lost.
Suvarnabhumi Airport (Thospho. ) Such cases are known and accelerated the verification of relevant information, coordinating the airline, ground service providers and relevant agencies to jointly verify the facts. Usually the process of providing outbound baggage. After the passengers check in and load the luggage with the airline, the luggage will be entered into the baggage parcel system of the National Security Council. To pass the security verification process with Explosives Detection System: EDS before forwarding to the Make up Unit for the airline ground service to carry out and transport luggage.
For this case, THSPO. Have checked the information in the system and images from CCTV (CCTV). It was found that throughout the period the bag was inside the baggage parcel system which is in the responsibility of the Police Department. Since entering the system through the security verification process with the EDS machine, it is in CLEAR state, no hazardous object or explosives have been found.
Therefore, there is no need to enter the process of bringing the baggage to the inspectors. Such baggage is automatically sorted through the system and sent directly to the Make up Unit area to be delivered to the airline’s luggage transportation process to continue on board the aircraft. The flight that happened this time belongs to Thai Viet Jet Airlines, which has hired Pattaya Aviation Co., Ltd. to be a cargo and baggage carrier (Loader) service provider.
The airline, however, participated in the inspection of CCTV footage and related information of the National Security Service. And on 21 August 2569 and informed that they have contacted the impacted passengers and are ready to take care and coordinate the investigation of such cases in the following relevant steps.
Suvarnabhumi Airport has traced the movements of the suitcase based on the baggage distribution system scan points and CCTV observation, allowing for a comprehensive trace of the bag:
Of course, there are always blind spots and let’s assume for a moment the pilferage did in fact occurred as claimed and items are missing, this could have easily happened in Krabi as well.
With the technology in place today, it’s much easier to track such matters and resolve both actual crimes and also fraudulent claims.
Conclusion
A Thai VietJet passenger who took a flight from Bangkok to Krabi is claiming that her baggage was pilfered and jewelry items worth in excess of 600,000 Thai Baht have been stolen from the contents of the suitcase. The airport authorities and the airline are now investigating the case and have released available CCTV footage.
No matter what, even if the pilferage in fact occurred, airlines are limited in liability either per the Montreal Convention for international flights or national laws when it comes to domestic flights such as this one.
And before any compensation is paid, airlines and insurance companies require receipts and proper reports made with the carrier, sometimes a police report as well. It’s highly unlikely the passenger will recover anywhere close to that she claims the value of the stolen items is.
