Ceiling Panels Collapse At Chiang Mai Airport Injures Two Passengers

[Georgealbert]

August 3, at approximately 07:55, Chiang Mai International Airport, Screening Checkpoint a section of the ceiling at the screening checkpoint in Chiang Mai International Airport collapsed, injuring two passengers. Both injured individuals are children and foreign nationals. One is a Dutch child who sustained minor injuries to the back of the hand, while the other is a Chinese child who suffered a head injury.

 

Emergency medical staff at the airport responded immediately, providing first aid to the injured passengers. Air Vice Marshal Ronakorn Chaloemsanyakorn, Director of Chiang Mai International Airport, oversaw the situation closely and coordinated the response efforts.

 

Following the incident, the Dutch child and family chose to continue their journey to Don Mueang Airport. Chiang Mai Airport has coordinated with Don Mueang Airport to ensure their safe arrival and further medical care. The Chinese passenger was taken to a private hospital in Chiang Mai for a detailed examination and received stitches for a 5 cm head wound. Subsequently, they returned to Chiang Mai Airport to continue their journey to Hat Yai Airport. Airport staff assisted with all necessary arrangements, including providing new clothing, issuing new boarding passes for the entire family, arranging lunch, and offering access to the VIP lounge. Additionally, they were given a small financial compensation, and further care will be coordinated with the insurance company.

 

Air Vice Marshal Ronakorn Chaloemsanyakorn expressed his deepest apologies and regret for the incident, acknowledging the error and welcoming any feedback for future improvements.

 

The collapse was attributed to structural weakness in the ceiling panels caused by moisture from the air conditioning ducts above. The insulation on these ducts had absorbed significant moisture due to recent continuous rainfall, leading to the ceiling's inability to support the weight. The ducts were already scheduled for maintenance and replacement. Immediate actions have been taken to remove damaged and weakened ceiling panels, and efforts are underway to complete the maintenance as soon as possible.

 

 

[webfact]

Ceiling collapse at Chiang Mai Airport injures two foreign children
by Bright Choomanee

 

Picture courtesy of The Pattaya News

A ceiling collapse at Chiang Mai Airport‘s security checkpoint injured two foreign children yesterday at 7.55am. Medical staff at the airport quickly administered first aid to the injured children.

 

The first child, from the Netherlands, sustained minor injuries to the back of his hand, while the second, from China, suffered a head injury.

 

The Dutch child and his family decided to continue their journey to Don Mueang International Airport, with assistance from Chiang Mai Airport staff to ensure their travel was safe and comfortable.

 

The Chinese child was taken to a private hospital in Chiang Mai, where he received stitches for a 5-centimetre head wound. After the treatment, the child’s family returned to the airport to prepare for their flight to Hat Yai Airport.

Airport officials provided extensive support to both families, including new clothes, tickets, lunch, and access to a VIP lounge. They also offered initial compensation and will work with insurance companies for further assistance.

“We deeply regret this incident and are taking all necessary steps to ensure it does not happen again,” said Wing Commander Ronnakorn Chalermsanyakorn, the general manager of Chiang Mai International Airport.

 

The ceiling collapse was attributed to weakened panels caused by moisture from the air conditioning ducts, aggravated by recent continuous rainfall. The airport has begun replacing the insulation and removing damaged panels as part of an accelerated maintenance plan to prevent future issues, reported The Pattaya News.

“Feedback and suggestions from this incident will be used to improve our facilities and ensure the safety of our passengers,” added Ronnakorn.

 

The local media in Chiang Mai reported that the airport will expedite the maintenance work to replace the insulation and remove the damaged panels.

 

In related news, a tragic incident occurred on June 8 at a temple in Nonthaburi’s Sai Noi district, where a monk was fatally injured by a collapsing mobile roof frame. The accident happened around 6.30pm when three monks were moving the large structure.

 

Source: The Thaiger 2024-08-05

 

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[hotchilli]

2 hours ago, webfact said:

The ceiling collapse was attributed to weakened panels caused by moisture from the air conditioning ducts, aggravated by recent continuous rainfall. The airport has begun replacing the insulation and removing damaged panels as part of an accelerated maintenance plan to prevent future issues,

Accelerated maintenance after the accident

[nobodysfriend]

Nobody died , that's good already .

[rwill]

In the first photo look how dirty that one panel is.  Maintenance doesn't seem to be a priority.

 

I don't know about them partly blaming rainfall unless the roof also needs maintenance.

[khunjeff]

3 hours ago, webfact said:

The ceiling collapse was attributed to weakened panels caused by moisture from the air conditioning ducts, aggravated by recent continuous rainfall.

 

Unless the roof was leaking, I don't understand why rainfall would have any impact on internal ceiling panels.

[Captain Flack]

A reported off topic post and replies has been removed 

[chiang mai]

I suspect this is a tourism issue where foreigners are to blame.

 

If foreigners hadn't flown to Thailand, the noise and vibration of plane traffic wouldn't have caused the roof to weaken prematurely and allow water ingress that caused the ceiling to collapse, ergo, foreigners must pay. 

 

Another visitor tax may be in order, an airport building premature aging tax maybe?

 

 

[klauskunkel]

3 hours ago, webfact said:

Air Vice Marshal Wing Commander Ronnakorn Chalermsanyakorn, the general manager of Chiang Mai International Airport.

One would think that being an Air Marshall would be a fulltime job on its own, but apparently this one needs to generally manage an international airport as well in his ample spare time...

Anyways, you're in good hands with The Amazing Thai Military... their hands are in everything

[Muhendis]

Shame nobody noticed the ceiling panels starting to sag and/or getting a bit mouldy.

The lights all still work so couldn't be a water problem.

[mberbae]

Much like the needed red light light at the intersection, not much gets done

until AFTER the accident.  Preventative maintenance is Never a High Priority

in most countries around the World.

[chiang mai]

20 minutes ago, klauskunkel said:

One would think that being an Air Marshall would be a fulltime job on its own, but apparently this one needs to generally manage an international airport in his ample spare time...

Anyways, you're in good hands with The Amazing Thai Military... their hands are in everything

It is/was a fact that airline pilots in a major Thai airline were required to hold two positions, one as a pilot and one within the corporate structure of the airline, performing admin/management roles. It was for this reason that the CAA/ICAO or its equivalent, rated airline safety quite low, because pilots were often too fatigued to fly. Perhaps the same is true of Air Marshalls, dunno.

[arick]

It's the only airport in the country that hasn't been renovated in the last 20 years I wonder why??? 

The land that they proposed to build the new airport is owned by a sales girl family  that is involved in selling property worth millions of USD and the purchasers never received any of it.

[ThaiFelix]

So they got past the escalators ok?                 

[klauskunkel]

14 minutes ago, chiang mai said:

It is/was a fact that airline pilots in a major Thai airline were required to hold two positions, one as a pilot and one within the corporate structure of the airline, performing admin/management roles. It was for this reason that the CAA/ICAO or its equivalent, rated airline safety quite low, because pilots were often too fatigued to fly. Perhaps the same is true of Air Marshalls, dunno.

I doubt he gets fatigued much...

[renaissanc]

I might be the only poster here to say this, but I'd like to compliment the airport authorities for doing everything they could to take care of the passengers in question. I call their response outstanding. 

[john donson]

no thai was hurt, the country is safe and can sleep again, no outrage

 

thank god apple's ad is taking off the airways

[Bohemianfish]

Anything can happen anywhere.

[Clarkey611]

1 hour ago, klauskunkel said:

I doubt he gets fatigued much...

Only after playing golf.

[metisdead]

An off topic post about the UK and a reply has been removed.

[Sig]

2 hours ago, Bohemianfish said:

Anything can happen anywhere.

Anything is encouraged to happen when one refuses to maintain things.

[Muhendis]

5 hours ago, khunjeff said:

 

Unless the roof was leaking, I don't understand why rainfall would have any impact on internal ceiling panels.

Increased rainfall = increased humidity = increased condensation on ducts

[Old Croc]

5 hours ago, klauskunkel said:

One would think that being an Air Marshall would be a fulltime job on its own, but apparently this one needs to generally manage an international airport as well in his ample spare time...

Anyways, you're in good hands with The Amazing Thai Military... their hands are in everything

I would think this Air Vice Marshall would be retired from the Airforce before taking a position as the GM of a regional airport. Many former high ranking military officers still retain their titles in retirement. A vanity thing.

 

This very high service rank should not be confused with the similarly named security people on flights. 

[Old Croc]

5 hours ago, chiang mai said:

It is/was a fact that airline pilots in a major Thai airline were required to hold two positions, one as a pilot and one within the corporate structure of the airline, performing admin/management roles. It was for this reason that the CAA/ICAO or its equivalent, rated airline safety quite low, because pilots were often too fatigued to fly. Perhaps the same is true of Air Marshalls, dunno.

Unless the Airline owns the airport itself, their staff, whether pilots or management, would not be responsible for building R&M.

They are just paying clients of the owners.

[klauskunkel]

3 minutes ago, Old Croc said:

I would think this Air Vice Marshall would be retired from the Airforce before taking a position as the GM of a regional airport. Many former high ranking military officers still retain their titles in retirement. A vanity thing.

 

This very high service rank should not be confused with the similarly named security people on flights. 

I'm guessing he's the chap in the purple shirt:

 

 

if that's case he doesn't look retirement age, could be his hair coloring though...

[Bundooman]

5 hours ago, klauskunkel said:

One would think that being an Air Marshall would be a fulltime job on its own, but apparently this one needs to generally manage an international airport as well in his ample spare time...

Anyways, you're in good hands with The Amazing Thai Military... their hands are in everything

Correct - and look how rapidly the Chinese passenger, (and family too I imagine), were then high priority, VIP status from CNX to BKK. Full groveling mode - no expense spared!

 

Nothing quite so elaborate for the poor Dutch passenger and family, just ensured comfort and safety to BKK, which is what we all get - and without the ceiling falling on top of us as well!

Just the Chinese.

[PETERTHEEATER]

5 hours ago, renaissanc said:

I might be the only poster here to say this, but I'd like to compliment the airport authorities for doing everything they could to take care of the passengers in question. I call their response outstanding. 

Particularly the issue of new boarding passes......

[Georgealbert]

14 minutes ago, klauskunkel said:

I'm guessing he's the chap in the purple shirt:

 

 

if that's case he doesn't look retirement age, could be his hair coloring though...

I believe you are right, that is him in the purple shirt, as it looks like his profile from the AOT (Airports of Thailand) website.

[Bobydog]

9 hours ago, hotchilli said:

Accelerated maintenance after the accident

One can't help noticing that in most all cases of accidents etc, the response is nearly always presented as immediate, prompt, speedily etc. Something that rarely applies to contropl of terrible riding practices occasioning death etc along with drunk/drug affected motorists. The list goes on .

[Hugh Jarse]

10 hours ago, hotchilli said:

Accelerated maintenance after the accident

Thais seemingly don’t do preventative maintenance hence the alarming levels of accidents like this.