I suppose with the number of flights that operate around the globe on a daily basis, mistakes of all sorts are bound to happen. However, this story in the Bangkok Post is a real head-scratcher, because there are supposed to be layers of procedures in place to prevent something like this.
Thai AirAsia leaves behind 23 passengers by mistake
This incident happened on January 17, 2026, and involves Thai AirAsia flight FD3116, a 7:10AM service scheduled to operate from Bangkok Don Mueang (DMK) to Hat Yai (HDY). The Airbus A320 had 136 people booked onboard.
As is standard at many airports in many parts of the world, this flight was departing from a remote stand, meaning that passengers were shuttled from the gate to the plane on buses.
After 113 passengers boarded, the flight departed on schedule, though according to reports, an elderly passenger couldn’t find her friend onboard, even though she had checked in and was at the gate. As the plane began taxiing, the woman unbuckled her seatbelt and alerted the flight attendants that her friend was missing.
Initially, the crew reportedly dismissed the concerns, telling the passenger that her friend had simply missed the flight, and could catch the next one, or suggested that maybe the friend boarded the wrong bus. However, the passenger’s phone then rang, and she learned that her friend and 22 other passengers were trapped on the bus with its doors closed.
So the aircraft returned to its parking position around 7:45AM, where the 23 stranded passengers finally got onboard the aircraft. The flight then eventually took off at 8:03AM, nearly an hour behind the scheduled departure time.
Airline apologies for “communication errors between staff”
There are supposed to be checks in place to prevent something like this. Most crucially:
- Flight attendants typically perform a passenger count, to confirm the correct number of people are onboard the aircraft
- A ground agent is supposed to communicate with the lead flight attendant to confirm when the aircraft is ready for departure, that all preparations have been carried out, etc.
Thai AirAsia confirmed the incident in a statement, and attributed it to “coordination and communication errors between staff.” The airline is questioning all staff involved, has taken action in accordance with company regulations, and has implemented stricter supervisory measures to prevent a recurrence. It’s anyone’s guess what that actually entails, but that’s what’s claimed.
Bottom line
When you have to take a bus to a remote stand at an airport, you reasonably expect that the plane won’t leave without you. However, on a recent Thai AirAsia flight, that didn’t end up being the case, as the plane departed despite 23 passengers being on a bus to the aircraft.
What’s wildest to me is that the crew only figured this out when an elderly passenger pointed out that her friend wasn’t onboard. Even then she was initially dismissed, until the friend called and explained what was going on.
What do you make of this Thai AirAsia incident?
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