Thailand's budget airline Nok Air has been ordered by the country's Civil Aviation Authority (CAAT) to suspend all international flights due to safety concerns. The directive follows a series of incidents between 2023 and 2025, including engine shutdowns, runway excursions, hard landings and tail strikes.
In a letter dated 25 August, CAAT instructed Nok Air CEO Wutthiphum Jurangkool to address personnel and flight performance issues before resuming overseas routes. The airline operates five international routes from Bangkok's Don Mueang Airport, serving three destinations in China and two in India during peak season.
CAAT director general Manat Chavanaprayoon described the incident rate over the past two to three years as 'significant'. Nok Air's domestic services remain fully operational, but the airline is barred from expanding them until the issues are resolved.
Mr Jurangkool said the airline is preparing a response and is confident the prohibitions can be lifted within a month. He stated that Nok Air complies with all CAAT regulations and suggested that an upcoming safety audit by the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO), concluding on 8 September, may have prompted the investigation.
