THAI vows cooperation in Melbourne heroin probe, sets 7-day disciplinary inquiry

CEO says airline will not intervene in Australian legal process

Thai Airways International chief executive Chai Eamsiri has pledged full cooperation with Australian police over the arrest of a female cabin crew member in Melbourne, saying the airline will not interfere in the legal process.

Chai said the case would be handled by Australian law-enforcement authorities, while Thai Airways would cooperate fully with all relevant agencies. He was responding after Australian authorities arrested a Thai Airways cabin crew member who was on duty on flight TG465 from Bangkok to Melbourne.

Australian authorities said a 26-year-old Thai airline employee was charged after more than 1 kilogramme of heroin was allegedly found in her baggage after she arrived at Melbourne Airport on June 25. The drugs were estimated to have a street value of A$500,000, or about 11.5 million baht.

Fact-finding panel given seven days

Chai said Thai Airways had immediately suspended the crew member from duty and appointed a fact-finding and disciplinary panel to investigate the case under company procedures.

The panel is expected to conclude its investigation within seven days, or possibly sooner. If the inquiry confirms wrongdoing, the employee will face the company’s maximum disciplinary penalty — dismissal, Chai said.

THAI admits reputational damage

Chai acknowledged that the incident had caused serious damage to Thai Airways’ image and reputation. He said it could also make travel procedures more difficult for Thai crew members or Thai nationals entering Australia, although he believed foreign authorities would consider such cases individually rather than judging all travellers by one incident.

The THAI chief stressed that the airline already has strict rules and procedures for pilots, cabin crew and other staff. Employees are briefed before flights on regulations, prohibited items and illegal goods, and are expected to understand what is lawful and unlawful, he said.

Thai Airways has more than 4,000 cabin crew members and more than 1,000 pilots, Chai said, adding that some individual conduct can be difficult to control despite company rules. He said he had instructed relevant departments to tighten supervision following the incident.

Australian charges carry up to 25 years

The Australian Federal Police and Australian Border Force said the woman had been charged with importing a marketable quantity of a border-controlled drug and possessing a marketable quantity of a border-controlled drug. Each offence carries a maximum penalty of 25 years in prison.

The suspect was remanded in custody on June 26 and is scheduled to appear again before Melbourne Magistrates’ Court on September 14.

CAAT reviews aviation-security procedures

The Civil Aviation Authority of Thailand said it had contacted the airport operator and the airline concerned to follow up on the facts and review procedures. CAAT said passenger and baggage screening at Thai airport checkpoints follows CAAT requirements and is in line with ICAO standards.

CAAT said aviation-security screening is primarily intended to prevent prohibited items that could threaten aircraft, passengers and crew from being taken on board. Narcotics enforcement, it added, falls under the authority of relevant law-enforcement agencies and requires cooperation among domestic and international bodies.

CAAT said it had also contacted the airline to monitor the preliminary investigation. If wrongdoing is confirmed, the regulator may consider action related to the crew member’s certificate to protect aviation safety standards and confidence in Thailand’s civil aviation system.