Thai Airways chief says he was fired by board after Bangkok flood chaos
The airline was forced to cancel dozens of flights this week when floods hit the Thai capital.
Baggage from Thai Airways flights at Suvarnabhumi International Airport, after heavy rain and flooding disrupted the airline’s ground operations, in Bangkok, Thailand, Sep 29, 2026. (Photo: REUTERS/Athit Perawongmetha)
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BANGKOK: The chief executive of Thai Airways, Chai Eamsiri, has been fired by the company’s board following the flag carrier’s chaotic response to the heavy floods that hit Bangkok last week, he told reporters on Friday.
“They didn’t give a reason,” Chai told reporters, referring to the board of the carrier, which met on Friday. “They want to see if there are gaps … mistakes in the work carried out.”
Thai Airways said in a filing to the stock exchange late on Friday that Chai had been suspended pending a fact-finding investigation and review of its crisis management procedures, with director Sumrid Sumneing appointed acting CEO.
The airline had been forced to cancel dozens of flights this week and suspend its cargo operations, partly due to issues with its employees being unable to get to work when the floods hit last week.
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Disruption to its operations at the main Suvarnabhumi Airport included huge baggage delays that required assistance from the Air Force to clear.
Bangkok was declared a disaster-affected zone at the weekend after receiving 320mm of rain over three days, as much as it typically receives in all of September.
Thai Tourism Minister Surasak Phancharoenworakul singled out Thai Airways for rebuke on Tuesday.
“We need to discuss how the management needs to work more proactively,” he told reporters. “If they don’t want to do the job, then resign.”
Chai, who has publicly apologised for the chaos that hit Thai Airways’ operations at Suvarnabhumi airport, joined the carrier in 1985, rising through the ranks to become its chief financial officer before being appointed CEO in 2023.
As of Jun 30, the airline operated a total of 84 aircraft covering 61 destinations in 27 countries.
In 2020, Thai Airways went into bankruptcy-protected restructuring, reducing its workforce by half and trimming its fleet, but went on to mount a turnaround in its finances. Its shares resumed trading on the stock market in August, after exiting its debt restructuring programme.
Source: Reuters/gs
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