Thai Woman Loses Leg After Getting Stuck In Airport's Moving Walkway

A 57-year-old woman had to get her leg amputated after she got stuck in a moving walkway at an airport in Bangkok, Thailand.

The incident took place at Don Mueang International Airport in the domestic passenger terminal. 

The airport's director Karun Thanakuljeerapat said the woman was travelling to the city of Nakhon Si Thammarat and had a "severe" accident when her left leg was caught at the end of the walkway. 

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Woman Loses Leg

The woman was due to board a morning flight when her leg got caught in the moving walkway. A medical team at the airport eventually had to cut off her left leg from above the knee.

The airport's director said the airport will bear the full cost of the woman's medical fees and will be open for negotiations for compensation. 

Medics responded and the woman was transferred to the nearest hospital, where she was informed that her leg could not be reattached. 

She was then transferred to Bumrungrad International Hospital, one of the top medical facilities. Thankfully, the doctors at Bumrungrad International Hospital are hopeful that the leg can be reattached.

Airport director Karun Thanakuljeerapat revealed that the walkway was in use since 1996 and had not been updated since. He also defended the routine maintenance and checkups.

Karun added that walkways are checked daily, along with an additional monthly inspection. 

He added that the airport planned to replace the old walkways by 2025 and the process might be sped up after the tragic accident. 

The airport director also ordered the suspension of all of the moving walkways to ensure their safety. 

The cause of the incident is currently being investigated. As per reports, a suitcase hit her and caused her to fall and got her leg stuck in a moving walkway.

Karun said the suitcase wheels were found underneath the belt of the moving walkway, but it is unclear how it might have caused the accident.

Images of the incident show the woman's leg trapped under the belt of the walkwalk.