A Thai passenger’s leg got amputated at an airport after getting trapped in a movable walkway on Thursday, officials said. The 57-year-old Thai woman was due to board a morning flight from Bangkok’s Don Mueang airport to Nakhon Si Thammarat province when the incident happened at Terminal 2.&nbsp;

A medical team was sent immediately to the incident site and they eventually had to remove her left leg from above the knee, according to the airport’s officials.&nbsp;

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“On behalf of the Don Mueang international airport, I’d like to express my deepest condolences regarding the accident,” airport director Karun Thanakuljeerapat told a news conference. “I’d like to insist that we will ensure that no such accident happens again.”

He said the airport would be fully responsible for the woman’s medical costs and would be open to negotiations regarding other compensation.

The medical team at the hospital informed Karun that they could not reattach her leg, but the woman requested to be transferred to another hospital to assess the possibility, he said.

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Images of the woman being trapped in the walkway were soon shared online. In the pictures, she can be seen with her leg trapped beneath the belt at the end of the walkway as she is assisted by airport authorities and staff. A suitcase lying near her was missing two wheels, and the yellow comb-like plates were seen broken off from where they typically cover the edge of the belt where the moving walkway ends.&nbsp;

Karun said the suitcase wheels were found underneath the belt, but it was unclear how it might relate to the accident. He said walkways at the airport were checked daily, with an additional monthly inspection. He said the walkway had been closed and a team of engineers was inspecting it to determine the cause of the incident.&nbsp;

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The walkway was manufactured by the&nbsp;Japanese company&nbsp;Hitachi in 1996, as per the airport director. He said there are plans to install a newer version of the travelator in 2025.&nbsp;

This is not the first time that such an accident involving a travelator has occurred at the Don Mueang Airport.&nbsp;

A passenger’s shoe was damaged after it got caught in the moving walkway in Terminal 1. In a statement, the airport said the faulty walkway was repaired and reopened for people in about an hour.&nbsp;

(With inputs from agencies)&nbsp;

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A Thai passenger’s leg got amputated at an airport after getting trapped in a movable walkway on Thursday, officials said. The 57-year-old Thai woman was due to board a morning flight from Bangkok’s Don Mueang airport to Nakhon Si Thammarat province when the incident happened at Terminal 2.

A Thai passenger’s leg got amputated at an airport after getting trapped in a movable walkway on Thursday, officials said. The 57-year-old Thai woman was due to board a morning flight from Bangkok’s Don Mueang airport to Nakhon Si Thammarat province when the incident happened at Terminal 2. A medical team was sent immediately to the incident site and they eventually had to remove her left leg from above the knee, according to the airport’s officials. Also Read | Explained | US Supreme Court struck down affirmative action: What this means for college admissions “On behalf of the Don Mueang international airport, I’d like to express my deepest condolences regarding the accident,” airport director Karun Thanakuljeerapat told a news conference. “I’d like to insist that we will ensure that no such accident happens again.” He said the airport would be fully responsible for the woman’s medical costs and would be open to negotiations regarding other compensation. The medical team at the hospital informed Karun that they could not reattach her leg, but the woman requested to be transferred to another hospital to assess the possibility, he said. Also Read | US: Black justices take swipe at each other in affirmative action case Images of the woman being trapped in the walkway were soon shared online. In the pictures, she can be seen with her leg trapped beneath the belt at the end of the walkway as she is assisted by airport authorities and staff. A suitcase lying near her was missing two wheels, and the yellow comb-like plates were seen broken off from where they typically cover the edge of the belt where the moving walkway ends. Karun said the suitcase wheels were found underneath the belt, but it was unclear how it might relate to the accident. He said walkways at the airport were checked daily, with an additional monthly inspection. He said the walkway had been closed and a team of engineers was inspecting it to determine the cause of the incident. Also Read | Hipólito Mora, leader of Mexican self-defense movement, murdered in violent ambush The walkway was manufactured by the Japanese company Hitachi in 1996, as per the airport director. He said there are plans to install a newer version of the travelator in 2025. This is not the first time that such an accident involving a travelator has occurred at the Don Mueang Airport. A passenger’s shoe was damaged after it got caught in the moving walkway in Terminal 1. In a statement, the airport said the faulty walkway was repaired and reopened for people in about an hour. (With inputs from agencies) WATCH WION LIVE HERE You can now write for wionews.com and be a part of the community. Share your stories and opinions with us here.

Thailand: Woman's leg amputated at Bangkok airport after getting stuck in travelator

A week after two Indian women were arrested in Bangkok for trying to board a flight with hundred live animals, there has now been another similar incident which has surfaced. An Indian man tried to smuggle 81 star tortoises and was caught at the Bangkok airport.

Indian man arrested for smuggling star tortoises from Bangkok airport

United Nations High Commissioner <a href="http://www.wionews.com/world/australian-minister-hints-humanitarian-asylum-for-saudi-teen-in-bangkok-189116">for Refugees(UNHCR) has said</a> it has referred Saudi teenager Rahaf Mohammed al-Qunun who fled home citing abuse at home to be considered for "refugee resettlement" in Australia.

"The UNHCR has referred Ms Rahaf Mohammed Al-Qunun to Australia for consideration for refugee resettlement," the Department of Home Affairs said in a statement.

Australia's health minister Greg Hunt had told a television channel that the 18-year-old Qunun would be considered for a humanitarian visa if she is found to be a refugee.

Hunt said he had spoken to immigration minister David Coleman about Qunun's case late on Tuesday.

However, Australia's home affairs minister&nbsp;Peter Dutton said there would be "no special treatment" afforded to Rahaf Mohammed al-Qunun but added that Australia would work with the United Nations.

Rahaf Mohammed al-Qunun has been at Bangkok's international airport since Saturday after she arrived from Kuwait, she was supposed to board a flight to Australia but was stopped by authorities at Bangkok.

Thai authorities had earlier said Qunun did not have documents related to visa on arrival, however, the Saudi teenager contended that she did not want to return home because she feared for her life.

"They will kill me," Qunun said, adding,"My life is in danger. My family threatens to kill me for the most trivial things."

The teenager's case has attracted global attention after&nbsp;journalist Jamal Khashoggi was allegedly killed by Saudi men in the Saudi consulate at Istanbul in October last year raising worldwide condemnation over human rights.

Meanwhile, Thailand's immigration chief said the father of an 18-year-old arrived in Bangkok and wanted to meet his daughter even as the UN refugee agency was conducting its investigation on the women's refugee status.

The case has also brought into attention Saudi Arabia's strict social rules, including requirement that women have the permission of a male "guardian" to travel. 
&nbsp;

United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees(UNHCR) has said it has referred Saudi teenager Rahaf Mohammed al-Qunun who fled home citing abuse at home to be considered for "refugee resettlement" in Australia.

United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees(UNHCR) has said it has referred Saudi teenager Rahaf Mohammed al-Qunun who fled home citing abuse at home to be considered for "refugee resettlement" in Australia. "The UNHCR has referred Ms Rahaf Mohammed Al-Qunun to Australia for consideration for refugee resettlement," the Department of Home Affairs said in a statement. Australia's health minister Greg Hunt had told a television channel that the 18-year-old Qunun would be considered for a humanitarian visa if she is found to be a refugee. Hunt said he had spoken to immigration minister David Coleman about Qunun's case late on Tuesday. However, Australia's home affairs minister Peter Dutton said there would be "no special treatment" afforded to Rahaf Mohammed al-Qunun but added that Australia would work with the United Nations. Rahaf Mohammed al-Qunun has been at Bangkok's international airport since Saturday after she arrived from Kuwait, she was supposed to board a flight to Australia but was stopped by authorities at Bangkok. Thai authorities had earlier said Qunun did not have documents related to visa on arrival, however, the Saudi teenager contended that she did not want to return home because she feared for her life. "They will kill me," Qunun said, adding,"My life is in danger. My family threatens to kill me for the most trivial things." The teenager's case has attracted global attention after journalist Jamal Khashoggi was allegedly killed by Saudi men in the Saudi consulate at Istanbul in October last year raising worldwide condemnation over human rights. Meanwhile, Thailand's immigration chief said the father of an 18-year-old arrived in Bangkok and wanted to meet his daughter even as the UN refugee agency was conducting its investigation on the women's refugee status. The case has also brought into attention Saudi Arabia's strict social rules, including requirement that women have the permission of a male "guardian" to travel.

Saudi teenager referred to Australia for refugee resettlement: UNHCR

The asylum claim of a young Saudi woman who resisted deportation from Thailand in a gripping, live-tweeted ordeal will take "several days" to assess, the UN's refugee agency in Bangkok said Tuesday.

<a href="http://www.wionews.com/world/saudi-woman-has-left-bangkok-airport-under-care-of-un-agency-thai-official-188859">Rahaf Mohammed al-</a><a href="http://www.wionews.com/world/saudi-woman-has-left-bangkok-airport-under-care-of-un-agency-thai-official-188859">Qunun</a> arrived at Bangkok's main airport over the weekend on a flight from Kuwait after running away from her family who she alleges subjected her to physical and psychological abuse.

The 18-year-old said she had planned to seek asylum in Australia, fearing she would be killed if sent back by Thai immigration officials who stopped her at the airport on Sunday.

Saudi Arabia's parlous rights record has been under heavy scrutiny since the murder of journalist Jamal Khashoggi last year.

Initially, Thai authorities said Qunun would be sent back to Saudi Arabia.

But as her plight pinballed across social media — including tweets about how she had barricaded herself in a hotel room — they abruptly changed course and allowed her to leave the airport late Monday in UNHCR's care.

The agency said it was "very grateful" that <a href="http://www.wionews.com/world/saudi-teen-barricades-herself-in-thai-hotel-to-stop-being-returned-to-family-188799">officials did not send Qunun back against her will</a>.

"It could take several days to process the case and determine next steps," the UNHCR representative in Thailand, Giuseppe de Vicentiis, said in a statement.

Thailand is not a signatory to a UN convention on refugees, and asylum seekers are typically deported or wait years to be resettled in third countries.

The UNHCR insists anyone with an asylum claim should not be sent back to the country they fled under the principle of non-refoulement.

Saudi Arabia's embassy did not immediately respond to a request for comment Tuesday.

But in an extensive explanation released on Twitter, the embassy denied sending officials to Suvarnabhumi airport to meet Qunun as she arrived from Kuwait, where her family lives.

It also said her passport had not been impounded as alleged while explaining it is in contact with her father, a senior regional government official in the kingdom, "to inform him on her situation".

Another official told a Saudi-owned TV channel that Qunun's father had contacted the mission for "help" in bringing her back.

Ultra-conservative Saudi Arabia has some of the world's toughest restrictions on women, including a guardianship system that allows male family members to make decisions on behalf of female relatives.

Qunun has said she believes she will be imprisoned or killed if sent back and that her family is so strict it once locked her in a room for six months for cutting her hair.

Under the hashtag #SaveRahaf, the young woman's desperate pleas became a social media sensation, where she was able to post live updates and videos from the Bangkok airport in both Arabic and English, racking up more than 80,000 followers.

Late Monday, her Twitter account said that her father had arrived in Bangkok. AFP was not able to independently verify the news.

Thailand is not a signatory to a UN convention on refugees, and asylum seekers are typically deported or wait years to be resettled in third countries.

The asylum claim of a young Saudi woman who resisted deportation from Thailand in a gripping, live-tweeted ordeal will take "several days" to assess, the UN's refugee agency in Bangkok said Tuesday. Rahaf Mohammed al-Qunun arrived at Bangkok's main airport over the weekend on a flight from Kuwait after running away from her family who she alleges subjected her to physical and psychological abuse. The 18-year-old said she had planned to seek asylum in Australia, fearing she would be killed if sent back by Thai immigration officials who stopped her at the airport on Sunday. Saudi Arabia's parlous rights record has been under heavy scrutiny since the murder of journalist Jamal Khashoggi last year. Initially, Thai authorities said Qunun would be sent back to Saudi Arabia. But as her plight pinballed across social media — including tweets about how she had barricaded herself in a hotel room — they abruptly changed course and allowed her to leave the airport late Monday in UNHCR's care. The agency said it was "very grateful" that officials did not send Qunun back against her will. "It could take several days to process the case and determine next steps," the UNHCR representative in Thailand, Giuseppe de Vicentiis, said in a statement. Thailand is not a signatory to a UN convention on refugees, and asylum seekers are typically deported or wait years to be resettled in third countries. The UNHCR insists anyone with an asylum claim should not be sent back to the country they fled under the principle of non-refoulement. Saudi Arabia's embassy did not immediately respond to a request for comment Tuesday. But in an extensive explanation released on Twitter, the embassy denied sending officials to Suvarnabhumi airport to meet Qunun as she arrived from Kuwait, where her family lives. It also said her passport had not been impounded as alleged while explaining it is in contact with her father, a senior regional government official in the kingdom, "to inform him on her situation". Another official told a Saudi-owned TV channel that Qunun's father had contacted the mission for "help" in bringing her back. Ultra-conservative Saudi Arabia has some of the world's toughest restrictions on women, including a guardianship system that allows male family members to make decisions on behalf of female relatives. Qunun has said she believes she will be imprisoned or killed if sent back and that her family is so strict it once locked her in a room for six months for cutting her hair. Under the hashtag #SaveRahaf, the young woman's desperate pleas became a social media sensation, where she was able to post live updates and videos from the Bangkok airport in both Arabic and English, racking up more than 80,000 followers. Late Monday, her Twitter account said that her father had arrived in Bangkok. AFP was not able to independently verify the news.

Asylum assessment of Saudi woman in Thailand to take days: UNHCR

A Saudi teenager who has barricaded <a href="http://www.wionews.com/world/saudi-woman-held-at-bangkok-airport-fears-she-will-be-killed-if-repatriated-188650">herself in Thailand's airport </a>transit area would be sent back home, Thai authorities said today.

Rahaf Mohammed al-Qunun, 18, pleaded on Twitter for asylum and asked the Thai government not to deport her back to Kuwait.

"I ask the... government of Thailand... to stop my deportation to Kuwait," she said on Twitter. "I ask the police in Thailand to start my asylum process."

<div class="ui-state-default" contenteditable="false">
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<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-lang="en">
Rahaf just send me this, she just want you to make sure she is on the hotel and she still needs help and protection. <a href="https://t.co/xxs61JIfhP">pic.twitter.com/xxs61JIfhP</a>
— Rahaf Mohammed رهف محمد القنون (@rahaf84427714) <a href="https://twitter.com/rahaf84427714/status/1082144843374055424?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">January 7, 2019</a></blockquote>
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Thai officials said Qunun was "waiting to board the flight" which was reportedly set to fly to Australia.

<div class="ui-state-default" contenteditable="false">
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<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-lang="en">
Kuwait airlines and Saudi embassy work together!! They took my passport
— Rahaf Mohammed رهف محمد القنون (@rahaf84427714) <a href="https://twitter.com/rahaf84427714/status/1082081214742224896?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">January 7, 2019</a></blockquote>
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The incident comes in the backdrop of journalist Jamal Khashoggi's murder who was killed in the Saudi consulate in Istanbul by Saudi men against who court cases are underway in the country.

Thai authorities, meanwhile, have denied acting on behalf of the Saudi government. The officials said she did not have the correct documents for a visa on arrival.

Human Rights Watch said she is fleeing&nbsp;Saudi Arabia to avoid abuse by her family and wants to meet the UN refugee agency to claim asylum.

&nbsp;

A Saudi teenager who has barricaded herself in Thailand's airport transit area would be sent back home, Thai authorities said today. Rahaf Mohammed al-Qunun, 18, pleaded on Twitter for asylum and asked the Thai government not to deport her back to Kuwait.

A Saudi teenager who has barricaded herself in Thailand's airport transit area would be sent back home, Thai authorities said today. Rahaf Mohammed al-Qunun, 18, pleaded on Twitter for asylum and asked the Thai government not to deport her back to Kuwait. "I ask the... government of Thailand... to stop my deportation to Kuwait," she said on Twitter. "I ask the police in Thailand to start my asylum process." Rahaf just send me this, she just want you to make sure she is on the hotel and she still needs help and protection. pic.twitter.com/xxs61JIfhP — Rahaf Mohammed رهف محمد القنون (@rahaf84427714) January 7, 2019 × Thai officials said Qunun was "waiting to board the flight" which was reportedly set to fly to Australia. Kuwait airlines and Saudi embassy work together!! They took my passport — Rahaf Mohammed رهف محمد القنون (@rahaf84427714) January 7, 2019 × The incident comes in the backdrop of journalist Jamal Khashoggi's murder who was killed in the Saudi consulate in Istanbul by Saudi men against who court cases are underway in the country. Thai authorities, meanwhile, have denied acting on behalf of the Saudi government. The officials said she did not have the correct documents for a visa on arrival. Human Rights Watch said she is fleeing Saudi Arabia to avoid abuse by her family and wants to meet the UN refugee agency to claim asylum.

Watch: Saudi teenager seeking asylum to be sent home, say Thai officials

Authorities in Thailand arrested two journalists on charges of arms possession for carrying plates for bullet-proof jacket and gas masks, standard war equipment for members of the media heading to a war zone.

Anthony Cheng, 46, from the UK was detained at Bangkok&#39;s Suvarnabhumi Airport on Monday along with Florian Witulski, a German freelance journalist, before he could board a flight to Iraq via Turkey for an assignment for China-based broadcaster CCTV English.

Thailand&#39;s Arms Control Act stipulates that gas masks and ballistic vests are war weapons and those carrying them need a licence.

In August 2015, a Hong Kong photojournalist was arrested at the same airport for carrying body armour and a helmet. Charges were later dropped.

Cheng was carrying three gas masks and four plates for safety vests, said Somchart Maneerat, a police investigator.

&quot;He faces charge of unlicensed possession of war weapons,&quot; Somchart told Reuters.

Cheng faces up to five years in prison if he is found guilty, Somchart added.

A lawyer for Cheng said he had requested bail.

Witulski, 31, was also detained on Monday night but released on Tuesday.

Witulski told Reuters they were not aware that licences were required for the safety gear.

&quot;The plates were loose and were taken as check-in baggage as we have done before many times,&quot; Witulski told Reuters, adding that he and Cheng had travelled to Iraq and Afghanistan several times and taken plates with them without being stopped by Thai authorities.

(Reuters)

The duo were headed for Iraq via Turkey for an assignment for China's CCTV English

Authorities in Thailand arrested two journalists on charges of arms possession for carrying plates for bullet-proof jacket and gas masks, standard war equipment for members of the media heading to a war zone. Anthony Cheng, 46, from the UK was detained at Bangkok's Suvarnabhumi Airport on Monday along with Florian Witulski, a German freelance journalist, before he could board a flight to Iraq via Turkey for an assignment for China-based broadcaster CCTV English. Thailand's Arms Control Act stipulates that gas masks and ballistic vests are war weapons and those carrying them need a licence. In August 2015, a Hong Kong photojournalist was arrested at the same airport for carrying body armour and a helmet. Charges were later dropped. Cheng was carrying three gas masks and four plates for safety vests, said Somchart Maneerat, a police investigator. "He faces charge of unlicensed possession of war weapons," Somchart told Reuters. Cheng faces up to five years in prison if he is found guilty, Somchart added. A lawyer for Cheng said he had requested bail. Witulski, 31, was also detained on Monday night but released on Tuesday. Witulski told Reuters they were not aware that licences were required for the safety gear. "The plates were loose and were taken as check-in baggage as we have done before many times," Witulski told Reuters, adding that he and Cheng had travelled to Iraq and Afghanistan several times and taken plates with them without being stopped by Thai authorities. (Reuters)

Thailand: Two journalists arrested for carrying bullet-proof vest plates and gas masks

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