Alleged China study trip fraud leaves students stranded at airport
Families paid THB39,900 per student for the programme, while Thailand’s basic education agency denies involvement and pledges to investigate.
- 45 students were left stranded at Suvarnabhumi Airport after discovering no airline tickets had been purchased for a paid-for study trip to China.
- Families paid a total of over THB 1.79 million for the program, but organizers failed to book flights and have not provided full refunds, prompting parents to file police complaints.
- One of the organizers allegedly posed as an official from Thailand’s Office of the Basic Education Commission (OBEC) to arrange the trip.
- OBEC has denied any official involvement in the program but has launched an investigation into the individual who allegedly claimed to be a staff member.
Thailand’s Office of the Basic Education Commission (OBEC) denied involvement in a failed China study programme on Friday (October 16, 2026), pledging to investigate after students were left stranded at Suvarnabhumi Airport and their parents sought police action.
The programme enrolled 45 students from three prominent schools in Bangkok, Nonthaburi and Chonburi.
Families paid THB39,900 per student, totalling THB1.7955 million, for a short course scheduled for October 15–26.
An individual with the title Dr and another person organised the programme.
The organisers had entered into a memorandum of understanding with a Chinese university, and parents had transferred payments to the organising teacher’s bank account.
One organiser allegedly claimed to be an OBEC official.
The organisers changed the destination from Xi’an to Beijing on October 11, claiming that dormitory accommodation in Xi’an could not accommodate the group.
During a meeting from 10am to noon on October 13, they assured parents that the trip would proceed and instructed participants to arrive at Suvarnabhumi Airport at 3pm on October 15 for a 6.20pm flight.
Teachers, students and parents arrived only to be told there were no airline tickets for them.
Airline staff confirmed that the group could not travel.
The organisers promised full refunds by October 15, but some parents had received only partial repayments.
Parents lodged a complaint at Suvarnabhumi Airport Police Station late that night and had the incident recorded as evidence.
They intended to gather supporting material and lodge further complaints at Phlapphla Chai 1 Police Station, Mueang Chonburi Police Station and the relevant local police station in Nonthaburi.
OBEC secretary-general Thanu Kwandej addressed allegations circulating on social media that students and parents had been deceived by someone claiming to be an agency civil servant.
Preliminary checks indicated that the programme had been organised in a personal capacity, with no connection established to OBEC’s operations or programmes.
The agency would examine information from all parties to establish the facts, ensure fairness and build public confidence.
“If the individual concerned is indeed a member of OBEC staff, a fact-finding committee will be appointed to establish the facts promptly. If there are grounds for disciplinary action, disciplinary and criminal proceedings will be pursued to the fullest extent,” Thanu said.
