Passenger loses leg in tragic accident on travelator at Thai airport

The emergency amputation was performed by a medical team at the airport. - The Nation

BANGKOK (The Nation/Asia News Network): A passenger had her left leg amputated after it got stuck in a travelator at Don Mueang International Airport early Thursday (June 29) morning.

She was rushed to Bhumibol Adulyadej Hospital for treatment after the emergency amputation of her left leg was performed by a medical team at the airport.

Footage from security cameras at the airport’s domestic terminal shows the passenger collapsing at 8.30am after being hit by a suitcase while on the walkway between departure gates four and five.

Her leg got stuck on the edge of the conveyor belt after she collapsed.

Graphic images published in Thai-language media, and on Facebook, show a young woman in agonising pain struggling to free her leg from a conveyor belt.

The young woman was about to board a flight to Nakorn Sri Thammarat.

Airport officials say they are investigating the incident and will issue a report on the cause of the accident after they finish their investigation.

Karun Thanakuljeerapat, the airport’s director, said that the walkway had been shut while engineers investigate the cause of the accident.

The accident will not lead to delays in flights arriving or departing the airport, he said.

Airport management expressed their sympathies to the victim and said they would pay her medical bills as well as compensate her for the loss of her left leg, a post on the airport’s Facebook page said.