By Chutima Sidasathian in Phuket
Mainland Chinese passengers stealing from duty-free stores has prompted a debate on security at Phuket International Airport.
A spate of thefts by mainland Chinese passengers, who decided at the last minute to help themselves at duty-free stores before making airborne getaways, has prompted debate about security procedures at Phuket International Airport.
The issue of the brazen mainland thieves was raised at a meeting between airport authorities, shop owners and Chinese airlines and tour operators on Wednesday.
Shoplifters sometimes escape arrest and punishment after making it aboard their flights because of a reluctance by Chinese airlines’ pilots to delay takeoff – and an apparent reluctance by security staff to press the issue.
In the most recent incident, a thief made off with cosmetics from the airport’s King Power duty free store at 7.30am on October 16.
In the most recent incident, a thief made off with cosmetics from the airport’s King Power duty free store at 7.30am on October 16.
The thief was quickly spotted on security cameras dashing for a flight.
Airport security officers were at the plane’s door within two minutes of the theft being detected, the meeting was told.
But instead of allowing the security officials to enter the aircraft, the captain ordered cabin staff to retrieve the cosmetics, return them, and left it at that.
Airport security officers were at the plane’s door within two minutes of the theft being detected, the meeting was told.
But instead of allowing the security officials to enter the aircraft, the captain ordered cabin staff to retrieve the cosmetics, return them, and left it at that.
The plane and thief then took off for China.
In a similar incident, the captain of an earlier China-bound flight allowed pursuing security officers to board the plane to retrieve costly stolen cosmetics but refused to hold the flight to allow for the thief’s arrest.
The names of the Chinese airlines involved were not disclosed.
The incidents raised the issue of who has the authority to stop a flight and whether proper punishment of a criminal is deemed more important than a timely takeoff.
Who has the power to order a flight to stop, a representative from Thai Air Orient wondered aloud at the meeting.
“I do,” said Kanputt Mungklasiri, executive vice president and deputy general manager for operations and maintenance at the airport.
“If it’s a concern about security or safety, we certainly have the power to stop aircraft leaving Phuket.”
Kanputt, who chaired the meeting, said he planned to hold further talks with King Power to find a way of preventing thieves from escaping without punishment.
Representatives from Air China, China Eastern, China Southern, as well as airlines based in Hainan, Shanghai and Sichuan were at the meeting, where a range of security issues were discussed.
The behaviour of its tourists has been debated and heavily criticised in mainland China, with official guidelines released this year.
Wednesday’s meeting was also told that Phuket’s new Terminal X, where most passengers from charter flights will be processed, should be open before January 1.
In a similar incident, the captain of an earlier China-bound flight allowed pursuing security officers to board the plane to retrieve costly stolen cosmetics but refused to hold the flight to allow for the thief’s arrest.
The names of the Chinese airlines involved were not disclosed.
The incidents raised the issue of who has the authority to stop a flight and whether proper punishment of a criminal is deemed more important than a timely takeoff.
Who has the power to order a flight to stop, a representative from Thai Air Orient wondered aloud at the meeting.
“I do,” said Kanputt Mungklasiri, executive vice president and deputy general manager for operations and maintenance at the airport.
“If it’s a concern about security or safety, we certainly have the power to stop aircraft leaving Phuket.”
Kanputt, who chaired the meeting, said he planned to hold further talks with King Power to find a way of preventing thieves from escaping without punishment.
Representatives from Air China, China Eastern, China Southern, as well as airlines based in Hainan, Shanghai and Sichuan were at the meeting, where a range of security issues were discussed.
The behaviour of its tourists has been debated and heavily criticised in mainland China, with official guidelines released this year.
Wednesday’s meeting was also told that Phuket’s new Terminal X, where most passengers from charter flights will be processed, should be open before January 1.
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