Woman’s leg amputated after being caught in travelator at Thailand’s Bangkok airport

A woman, stuck in a travelator at a Thailand airport underwent surgery and her leg was amputated. The management of Bangkok’s Don Mueang airport has assured the relatives of the 57-year-old victim that it would compensate for the partial loss of her leg and beas the medical expenses.

The woman tripped on the travelator and her leg got stuck while she was on her way to board a flight. Her son said that the family was shocked at the incident and was concerned about the mental condition of his mother after the surgery. He also said that though his mother was full of confidence after the surgery, she was broken down as she had lost her leg.

The airport management expressed deep sorrow and concern at the accident and its director Karant Thanakuljeerapat announced that a probe has been already launched. He also said that the travelator was scheduled for replacement in 2025, but now it would be done earlier. The travelator has been in use since 1996. Japanese company Hitachi has manufactured the travelator.


A picture shared online shows that the woman has her leg trapped below the belt at the end of the travelator. A suitcase can be seen in the picture, its wheels are broken and the comb-like plates were broken from the place that covers the edge of the plate at the end of the travelator.

However, it is not the first time that such an accident has occurred at the airport’s travelator. A passenger’s shoe was caught in a moving travelator. Confirming the incident, the airport claimed that the travelator was repaired and began operating like before within an hour.

FAQs:

Q1:How long has the travelator been operating at Bangkok Airport?
The travelator has been working at Bangkok’s Don Mueang airport since 1996. It was scheduled for replacement in 2025, but now will be replaced earlier.

Q2:Who manufactured the travelator?
Japanese engineering giant Hitachi manufactured the travelator in 1996.