Thai Airways chief says he was fired by board after Bangkok flood chaos

Thai Airways CEO Chai Eamsiri said Friday that the airline's board had fired him following the flag carrier's chaotic response to severe flooding in Bangkok last week.

"They didn't give a reason," Chai told reporters after the board met Friday. "They want to see if there are gaps... mistakes in the work carried out."

Thai Airways said in a filing to the stock exchange late Friday that Chai had been suspended pending a fact-finding investigation and a review of its crisis management procedures.

Director Sumrid Sumneing was appointed acting CEO.

The airline was forced to cancel dozens of flights this week and suspend cargo operations, partly because flooding prevented employees from reaching work.

The disruption at Bangkok's Suvarnabhumi Airport also caused severe baggage delays, prompting the Air Force to assist in clearing the backlog.

Passengers line up in front of the Thai Airways office at Suvarnabhumi Airport to register for luggage they could not claim after flooding affected operations in Bangkok, Thailand, Sept. 27, 2026. Photo by AP

Bangkok was declared a disaster-affected zone at the weekend after receiving 320 mm (12.6 inches) of rain over three days, roughly the amount it typically receives in an entire September.

Thai Tourism Minister Surasak Phancharoenworakul singled out Thai Airways for criticism on Tuesday, telling reporters: "If they don't want to do the job, then resign."

Chai, who has publicly apologized for the disruption at Suvarnabhumi Airport, joined Thai Airways in 1985 and rose through the ranks to become chief financial officer before being appointed CEO in 2023.

As of June 30, Thai Airways operated 84 aircraft serving 61 destinations in 27 countries.

Thai Airways entered bankruptcy-protected restructuring in 2020, cutting its workforce by half and reducing its fleet. The airline subsequently turned around its finances, and its shares resumed trading on the stock market in August after it exited its debt restructuring program.