10-7-2023 (BANGKOK) Investigators have identified the cause of the moving walkway collapse at Bangkok’s Don Mueang International Airport in June, which resulted in a 57-year-old Thai woman losing part of her leg. The incident occurred when a plate on the walkway gave way, leading to the amputation of Ms. Suphannee Kittirattana’s lower leg. However, her son recently provided an update, stating that she is already taking her first steps with the help of a prosthetic leg.
Professor Weerachai Phutdhawong from Kasetsart University in Bangkok explained that the leg fell through a plate that was held in place by worn-out screws as Ms. Kittirattana was walking on the travelator at Terminal 2 of the airport around 8:40 a.m. on June 29. The plate slid beneath the moving walkway, causing her leg to fall into the gap and become trapped in the gears at the end of the walkway.
According to a report by Bangkok’s Channel 7, the travelator had been in operation since 1987 and was scheduled for replacement in 2025. However, due to the incident, authorities may need to revisit the timeline for the replacement.
At the airport, a medical team had to perform an above-the-knee amputation to free Ms. Kittirattana’s leg. Her son, Krit, took to Facebook on Sunday to share the positive progress his mother has made. He mentioned that she is “learning to walk again” and has been practicing for 15 minutes every day. He expressed his admiration for her strength and resilience, stating that despite the ordeal, she remains beautiful and that he hopes she will soon outrun him.
Earlier, Krit expressed concerns about his mother’s mental state and how she would adjust in the long term. The family is facing a challenging crisis, but they are determined to support and fight alongside their mother. They plan to take legal action against Airports of Thailand (AoT), the state-owned company responsible for operating airports across Thailand.
