Suvarnabhumi Airport apologized for slant-eye gesture to 22 Chinese passengers denied Thai Airways (July 29). Penalties and training; airline silent on compensation.
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Footage showing that an airport security officer at Suvarnabhumi Airport in Thailand making an alleged discriminatory "slant-eye" gesture toward Chinese passengers Photo: Screenshot of online videos
Suvarnabhumi Airport in Bangkok has issued a formal apology and imposed disciplinary penalties on security officers over inappropriate and discriminatory conduct toward Chinese travelers, following a viral video showing a staff member making the offensive “slant-eye” gesture targeting Chinese passengers. The controversy stems from a recent incident in which 22 Chinese passengers were denied boarding on a scheduled Thai Airways flight, triggering widespread public debate and cross-border outrage.
According to media reports, more than 20 Chinese passengers were abruptly ordered off the boarding bridge without explanation on July 29. Their checked luggage was removed from Thai Airways Flight TG674 bound for Beijing, and they were ultimately barred from boarding, while the flight departed on schedule. Public anger intensified after footage emerged showing an airport security guard making the racially insensitive slant-eye gesture during on-site negotiations with the stranded travelers.
In an official statement released late Tuesday night, Suvarnabhumi Airport detailed the sequence of events. At around 11 p.m. on July 29, a group of Chinese fans followed a Chinese celebrity into the airport lounge without authorization. After being asked to leave by staff, the group continued tailing the celebrity into the boarding zone and refused to comply with routine ticket and document inspections, attempting to board the aircraft alongside the public figure.
To prevent unauthorized entry and potential onboard disruptions, the airline temporarily closed the cabin door, while security personnel escorted the group back to the departure lounge. Citing violations of aviation security protocols and concerns that unruly behavior might escalate mid-flight and become uncontrollable after takeoff, Thai Airways made the final decision to deny boarding to all 22 passengers, resulting in a minor flight delay.
The airport added that 12 of the affected passengers cooperated with luggage offloading procedures, while the remaining 10 refused to comply and expressed strong dissatisfaction with the boarding denial. Tensions escalated as the group confronted airport staff, sparking a heated standoff.
Viral clips captured during the confrontation showed a security officer performing the slant-eye gesture, a widely recognized discriminatory gesture targeting East Asian people. While emphasizing that security staff intervened to uphold flight safety and operational order, the airport admitted that some officers displayed inappropriate attitudes, facial expressions and behaviors during duty, which violated official service standards and regulations.
Suvarnabhumi Airport confirmed it had issued disciplinary sanctions against the involved security personnel. It has also launched company-wide training to require all employees to strictly follow operational protocols, manage personal emotions, and deliver standardized, respectful services to all passengers regardless of nationality.
The incident quickly dominated trending topics on Weibo, China’s major social media platform, accumulating over 2.9 million reads within 24 hours. Many Chinese netizens condemned the discriminatory gesture as offensive and inappropriate, while others pointed out the absurdity of such racially targeted mockery. Some users criticized the airport’s apology as superficial, arguing that authorities avoided addressing core issues, including the legitimacy of the boarding ban and compensation for the passengers’ losses and violated rights.
Industry commentators also highlighted unresolved controversies surrounding the incident. As the carrier and decision-maker behind the boarding denial, Thai Airways has remained completely silent, failing to disclose the legal basis for its refusal to board passengers, announce compensation arrangements, or release an official investigation report. In response to public inquiries, Suvarnabhumi Airport clarified on Wednesday that boarding decisions fall under the airline’s jurisdiction, shifting accountability to Thai Airways for the incident’s root cause and follow-up handling.
Meanwhile, online opinion remained divided. While most netizens condemned the discriminatory staff behavior, some also noted that blind celebrity-chasing and disruption of public aviation order should not be excused, calling for rational compliance with public rules during travel.
The airport controversy marks the second recent conflict involving Chinese citizens in Thailand. On July 25, violent altercations broke out at a Bangkok book fair hosted by Thai entertainment firm GMMTV. Online footage shows company staff forcibly removing a Chinese female fan from a celebrity meet-and-greet event. When the fan recorded the scene with her phone, a female staff member grabbed her by the shoulder and neck, attempted to seize her device, and violently threw her to the ground, with multiple employees surrounding and intimidating the victim. The back-to-back incidents have sparked heated discussions over the treatment of Chinese tourists in Thailand.
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Editor: Crystal H
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