Airport fined for lack of metal detector

The court said Chirmsak had to be compensated for worry he faced when taking a Nok Air flight out of the airport on August 16.

The former senator feared the flight may not be safe given there was no metal detector to check things passengers carried into the aircraft.

Unhappy with what he perceived as lax security measures, Chirmsak lodged a complaint against the Department and Nok Air demanding Bt5.5 million in compensation.

The case was the first filed under the Consumer Case Procedure Act, which took effect on August 23 to allow consumers to sue more conveniently.

Chirmsak lodged the complaint on August 25.

"My case took only four months and the court summons witnesses by itself," the former senator said yesterday.

He encouraged other consumers to protect their rights just like him.

Ruling on Chirmsak's case, the Civil Court ordered the Aviation Department to pay Bt50,000 compensation to Chirmsak.

Walailak University borrowed the metal detector from Nakhon Si Thammarat Airport for use during its conferral ceremony, and returned the device on August 15. But airport staff did not start using it again till August 17.

The court has acquitted Nok Air on grounds that airliner's duty is only to provide aircraft.