BANGKOK, Thailand – Aeronautical Radio of Thailand Co., Ltd. (AEROTHAI) has projected a total of 73,500 flights for November, with an average of 2,450 flights per day, representing a 36% increase compared to the same period last year during the Loy Krathong festival. The six airports expecting the highest flight volumes during this year’s Loy Krathong celebrations, from November 14 to 19, include Suvarnabhumi Airport (6,170 flights), Don Mueang Airport (3,760 flights), Phuket Airport (1,840 flights), Chiang Mai Airport (1,100 flights), Samui Airport (440 flights), and other regional airports with around 230 flights.
Deputy Government Spokesperson Karom Polpornklang stressed the potential risks to aviation posed by festival activities, especially with Loy Krathong coinciding with the Yi Peng festival on November 15. He warned that releasing lanterns, fireworks, balloons, drones, and similar objects into the air can compromise flight safety by affecting pilot visibility and posing risks to aircraft.
Karom urged the public to avoid activities that interfere with flight operations, including using laser beams, while reminding citizens to refrain from releasing any objects in air safety zones as stipulated by Article 59/1 of the Air Navigation Act B.E. 2497 (1954). Violators could face up to five years in prison, fines of up to 200,000 baht, or both.
In cases where such actions cause harm to aircraft or endanger flight safety, penalties could escalate to life imprisonment, prison terms ranging from 15 to 20 years, or fines between 600,000 and 800,000 baht.
