2nd October 2026 – (Bangkok) Thai Airways’ chief executive, Chai Eamsiri, said he was removed by the flag carrier’s board following the airline’s chaotic response to last week’s floods in the Thai capital. Speaking to reporters on Friday, Chai said the board did not give a reason for its decision but wanted to examine possible gaps or errors in the handling of the crisis. In a stock‑exchange filing late on Friday, the airline said Chai had been suspended pending a fact‑finding review of emergency procedures, with director Sumrid Sumneing appointed acting CEO.
The deluge forced the carrier to cancel dozens of flights and temporarily halt cargo operations, in part because staff struggled to reach workplaces as floodwaters rose. Operations at Suvarnabhumi Airport were severely disrupted, with large backlogs of baggage that required assistance from the Royal Thai Air Force to clear.
Bangkok was declared a disaster‑affected zone over the weekend after receiving about 320 millimetres of rain in three days, roughly equivalent to its typical total for the entire month of September. The fallout prompted a public rebuke from Tourism Minister Surasak Phancharoenworakul, who urged more proactive management at the airline and said those unwilling to act should step aside.
Chai, who publicly apologised for the disruption at Suvarnabhumi, joined Thai Airways in 1985 and rose through the ranks to chief financial officer before becoming CEO in 2023. As at 30th June, the airline operated 84 aircraft serving 61 destinations across 27 countries.
The upheaval comes after a multi‑year turnaround. Thai Airways entered court‑supervised restructuring in 2020, cutting its workforce and shrinking its fleet before returning to profitability.