A Chinese passenger is facing legal action after allegedly damaging two automatic passport control gates and verbally abusing immigration officers at Suvarnabhumi Airport in Samut Prakan. The incident happened at the airport’s outbound immigration Zone 2 on 13 May at about 2.35pm, with authorities estimating damage at around 450,000 baht to 480,000 baht.

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Police Lieutenant Colonel Sitthiphong Panthaisong, an investigator at Suvarnabhumi Airport Police Station, received a complaint from immigration officers following the incident. Police Captain Saranwit Kaewkhoto said the suspect, identified as 30-year-old Chinese national Liwei Zheng, became aggressive while attempting to pass through the Automated Border Control checkpoint before boarding Spring Airlines flight 9C7282 to China.

According to officials, Zheng failed to follow the machine instructions correctly after placing his boarding pass on the passport scanner, causing the first gate not to open. He then reportedly became angry and kicked the glass gate, damaging it before attempting the process again.

Authorities said the suspect incorrectly placed his passport during the second attempt, causing the machine to fail once more. Zheng allegedly kicked the gate again and forced his way through the checkpoint without clearance, as seen in video footage shared online.

Immigration officers moved in to detain him, but police said he shouted abusive remarks in Chinese and English, including insults translated into Thai as “your mother is dead”. Officers also alleged that he attempted to physically attack staff while they were carrying out their duties.

Pictures courtesy of Khaosod

The suspect’s wife intervened and restrained him before the confrontation escalated further. Immigration officers and airport security staff later transferred Zheng to investigators at Suvarnabhumi Airport Police Station for detention and legal proceedings.

Authorities charged Zheng with damaging government property, an offence carrying a maximum penalty of three years in prison, a fine of up to 60,000 baht, or both. He will also be required to compensate Suvarnabhumi Airport for the damaged passport control equipment.

Police are also pursuing charges of insulting officials while performing their duties, which carries a maximum sentence of one year in prison, a 20,000 baht fine, or both. Investigators are expected to forward the case to Samut Prakan Provincial Court on 15 May 2026.

Immigration Bureau commissioner Lieutenant General Phanumas Boonyalak ordered officials to revoke Zheng’s visa and place him on Thailand’s immigration blacklist for life, describing him as a threat to society. Authorities said he would be deported to China after legal proceedings conclude.

Khaosod reported that Lieutenant General Phanumas also warned foreign visitors that Thailand welcomes tourists who respect Thai people and laws, adding that criminal offences or behaviour violating public morality could result in visa revocation and deportation.

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Adapted by ASEAN Now Khaosod 15 May 2026

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3 hours ago, Georgealbert said:

became angry and kicked the glass gate

including insults translated into Thai as “your mother is dead"

damage at around 450,000 baht to 480,000 baht

Angry guy. We have a few here.

Another psycho foreigner, poor Thailand 🙁

'You mother is dead' ...... not at all polite but not as bad as..... I ****ed your mother.

That's a quick half a million down the drain.

Edited May 15May 15 by SAFETY FIRST

Clearly, a punk that needs a good beat down...or the second part of FAFO.

I think it would have to be alcohol or substance related...it takes a special kind of idiot to do this in an airport and trying to board a flight.

When he's free to leave, make hime take the train back to China.

4 hours ago, Georgealbert said:

He then reportedly became angry and kicked the glass gate, damaging it before attempting the process again.

Video was a bit disappointing TBH ... I was expecting shattered glass - nice dramatic soundtrack. I suspect he had more choice words than "your mother is dead" but they are poorly translated. 🤯

At least he won't be back, Blacklisted and Deported.

Edited May 15May 15 by expat_4_life

Only child not used to having to follow rules.

Back in 2013, the BBC did a story about China's one-child policy.

In that story it was said that "On the township roads, there are slogans written on flamboyant red banners, telling people to have fewer children and raise more pigs".

Obviously, Zheng's parents took it literally!

Some of us have experienced the problems at the gates and can understand why some people will over react. The readers are not cleaned regularly so there can be debris, snot, grease, gum residues, etc. Or, the printed bar codes on the BP can be smudged, or there can be other read errors. It can take awhile before the inattentive attendant wanders over, if she disengages from her mobile phone. . It can be a frustrating experience when there are delays. The reader issues are not specific to Thailand and I have had them at several major airports. Not surprised it was Spring Airlines. It has a low cost carrier that caters to the junketeers of China.

His poor missus. He was probably that abusive at home.

Looks like he didn't look at the camera to get his photo taken by the machine and thats why the gates didn't open

What a biiiitch and a total loser. On the other hand an immigration official should be at the gates to help people when needed.

1 hour ago, Patong2021 said:

Some of us have experienced the problems at the gates and can understand why some people will over react.

If rised properly, an adult does not "overreact" to such problems. He stays calm and looks for help. Having a temper tantrum has never solved a problem. That worked maybe as a child at the checkout in the supermarket for a treat. But it clearly does not work if you are an adult.

So if a grown adult gets temper tantrums like a child, nobody does understand his "overreaction". Beside of other adult that behave like him.

1 hour ago, Rams86 said:

What a biiiitch and a total loser. On the other hand an immigration official should be at the gates to help people when needed.

So very true, an official should have been monitoring these machines and helping with their use. There are many people, for one reason or another, that have problems reading and understanding these machines.

Well Thailand loves their "quality" chinese visitors. So this seems to be the price to pay.