PHUKET: An aircraft captain refused to allow a passenger to fly home from Phuket to France this week, creating an unusual incident at Phuket International Airport.
The 56-year-old man was in the waiting area at the airport on Thursday and about to join in boarding the late-night flight to Europe when observations from other passengers and boarding staff reached the ears of the flight's captain.
The man had a wound that was not just unsightly but seeping into his jacket. It was also noticeably smelly.
The captain went to investigate and denied the man permission to board the flight on the grounds of health concerns for the other passengers.
His decision brought a flurry of activity. Airport officials and Immigration officers were alerted to the captain's decision.
At first reluctant to obey officials, the man was taken to Thalang Hospital, where nurses cleaned the wound. The man was singing through the procedure.
Tourist Police took the man back to Phuket airport, where he spent some time isolated from other travellers in the Immigration staff section.
The man arrived on Phuket on October 25 and obtained a visa until November 23. However, because the man had been due to fly out, Immigration officials cancelled his visa on Thursday.
A hand-written notation was added to the page in the man's passport. It reads: ''The captain has denied entry to the aircraft because of concerns about health and safety.''
French honorary consul Claude de Crissey has since become involved. Mr de Crissey organised for the man to be taken from the airport to stay in Vachira Phuket Hospital in Phuket City on Friday and Saturday nights.
A relative has told the envoy that the man's behavior is out of character.The relative could not speculate about how the unusual circumstances came about.
The man is a frequent flyer with the airline that barred him from Thursday's flight and often travels from France to Thailand.
Phuketwan has refrained from naming the man out of concern for possible repercussions that could follow him through the rest of his life.
The 56-year-old man was in the waiting area at the airport on Thursday and about to join in boarding the late-night flight to Europe when observations from other passengers and boarding staff reached the ears of the flight's captain.
The man had a wound that was not just unsightly but seeping into his jacket. It was also noticeably smelly.
The captain went to investigate and denied the man permission to board the flight on the grounds of health concerns for the other passengers.
His decision brought a flurry of activity. Airport officials and Immigration officers were alerted to the captain's decision.
At first reluctant to obey officials, the man was taken to Thalang Hospital, where nurses cleaned the wound. The man was singing through the procedure.
Tourist Police took the man back to Phuket airport, where he spent some time isolated from other travellers in the Immigration staff section.
The man arrived on Phuket on October 25 and obtained a visa until November 23. However, because the man had been due to fly out, Immigration officials cancelled his visa on Thursday.
A hand-written notation was added to the page in the man's passport. It reads: ''The captain has denied entry to the aircraft because of concerns about health and safety.''
French honorary consul Claude de Crissey has since become involved. Mr de Crissey organised for the man to be taken from the airport to stay in Vachira Phuket Hospital in Phuket City on Friday and Saturday nights.
A relative has told the envoy that the man's behavior is out of character.The relative could not speculate about how the unusual circumstances came about.
The man is a frequent flyer with the airline that barred him from Thursday's flight and often travels from France to Thailand.
Phuketwan has refrained from naming the man out of concern for possible repercussions that could follow him through the rest of his life.
Theres a big difference between a visa which gives you the right to enter thailand' and a permission to stay 'which gives you the right to be within thailand' .
the man was not given a visa, nor even a visa on entry, he was given a visa exempt entry for 30 days.
Saves everyone confusion when these are correctly applied.
Posted by LivinLOS on November 17, 2013 08:04