Don Mueang Airport reports 1,122 prohibited items found under new rules

Don Mueang International Airport in Bangkok has reported finding 1,122 prohibited or non-compliant items within 927 pieces of checked luggage during the first seven days of new inspection regulations. The rules, implemented on October 16 following directives from the Civil Aviation Authority of Thailand (CAAT), aim to enhance aviation safety.

The most frequently detected prohibited items included power banks, lighters, e-cigarettes, and flammable substances. Under the new protocols, authorized airport personnel are permitted to open checked luggage if X-ray scans indicate suspicious items or potential safety risks. These inspections must be recorded on camera, and a ‘Notice of Baggage Inspection’ must be placed inside the luggage to inform the passenger.

CAAT clarified that officers are not permitted to routinely open every bag; searches are only triggered when X-ray screening raises specific concerns. This clarification follows social media complaints regarding luggage tampering. Investigations into those specific cases found that the incidents did not involve official baggage inspections conducted under the new rules.

Authorities advise passengers to check airline regulations regarding battery-powered devices and to keep valuables, such as cash, in carry-on luggage rather than checked bags.