An investigation has been launched after 45 Thai passengers were left abandoned at Bangkok’s Suvarnabhumi Airport when they discovered that no flight tickets had been booked for a planned trip to China, despite them having paid for the tour program.
Parents of the student passengers filed complaints with airport police on Oct. 15, reporting losses of 1.795 million baht (US$53,414) after paying 39,900 baht per person for a short course scheduled for Oct. 15-26, Nation Thailand reported.
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Tourists wait to check in for flights at Suvarnabhumi airport in Bangkok, Thailand, Jan. 4, 2023. Photo by Reuters |
Preliminary findings indicated that the organizer, reportedly a man, had claimed to have signed a memorandum of understanding with a Chinese university to arrange the trip, Bangkok Post reported.
On Oct. 11, he abruptly changed the destination from Xi’an to Beijing, citing delays in preparing accommodation. Two days later, he confirmed the revised itinerary and instructed participants to gather at the airport at 3 p.m.
The group was scheduled to board a flight at 6:20 p.m. but discovered that no tickets had been booked.
The airline subsequently confirmed that they could not travel.