BANGKOK, THAILAND – Suvarnabhumi International Airport rejected social media reports of an alleged aircraft hijacking as misinformation and said it was considering legal action against a Facebook page.
Old runway footage reposted as breaking news
The controversy centered on a video posted on 26 January on the Facebook page ข่าวสดช่อง 8 (Channel 8 News). The caption spoke of a “tense situation at Suvarnabhumi Airport” and a “drug-dependent man who allegedly tried to hijack an aircraft.”
The page did not state when the incident had taken place and gave no details about the arrest or subsequent proceedings. The post spread quickly, drawing more than 19,000 reactions, nearly 1,000 comments and over 1,400 shares.
Chaotic chase on the tarmac
The video showed a man riding a motorcycle onto a runway area where several aircraft were parked. Airport security officers pursued the suspect, who carried an unknown object described in the post as a possible weapon.
Footage showed airport staff and pick-up trucks chasing the man across the tarmac. He then ran toward the passenger terminal but could not enter because the doors were locked, before being overpowered and arrested by airport officials.
Security criticism prompts airport clarification
After the video was published, online users criticized security arrangements at the airport. Some accused officers of taking too long to stop the intruder, while others questioned how an unauthorized person could gain such easy access to the airside area.
Suvarnabhumi’s official Facebook page responded directly in the comments section, stating that the incident had already occurred in 2022 and referring users to an official news report from that time for context.
Airport: incident from 2022, no injuries and no hijacking
In a formal statement dated 27 January, the airport confirmed that the case was four years old. The management stressed that security personnel had brought the situation “quickly and effectively” under control, that the suspect had been arrested and that he had faced criminal prosecution.
According to the airport, no passengers or staff were injured. There had been no actual aircraft hijacking at any time.
Threat of action under Computer Crime Act
At the same time, the airport called on the operators of the Facebook page to remove the video. It said the renewed publication had caused unnecessary panic and damaged public confidence in the airport.
The management referred to Section 14 of the Computer Crime Act, under which the dissemination of false or misleading information that causes public alarm can be punished with up to five years in prison, a fine of up to 100,000 baht, or both. Authorities were examining possible legal steps against the page’s operators.
By 28 January, the post remained online, according to the airport.
Page repeatedly posts old TV reports
Further research showed that the Facebook page had repeatedly reposted old news videos from well-known Thai television stations. Although it uses the name “Channel 8,” it has no connection to the broadcaster’s official news service.
Airport management urged operators of online platforms to cooperate in preventing the spread of misleading content. The goal, it said, was to protect public trust in the safety of air transport.