Airport worker is crushed to death beneath glass elevator in front of horrified passengers

An airport worker has been crushed to death beneath a glass elevator in front of horrified passengers in Thailand. 

Mechanic Wisatrat Tangsoh, 22, was working at the bottom of the shaft when the two-tonne glass cabin crashed down onto him yesterday afternoon.

Shocked passengers heard cries of pain as frantic staff secured the area in the departures terminal of the Suvarnabhumi International Airport in Bangkok.

His colleagues from the company Asian Elevator rushed over and found Mr Wisatrat's body in a pool of blood on the concrete base of the lift shaft.

He had reportedly been trying to retrieve a wrench from the base when the lift began slowly descending onto him. 

But the 22-year-old faced a horror final few moments when he was unable to escape in time and those above unable to stop the lift.

Mechanic Wisatrat Tangsoh, 22, (pictured) was working at the bottom of the shaft when the two-tonne glass cabin crashed down onto him yesterday afternoon

Medics working at the base of the lift shaft in the departures terminal of the Suvarnabhumi International Airport in Bangkok

Medics arrived and the worker was pronounced dead at the scene. He had suffered a catastrophic head injury from the force of the elevator.

The area was cordoned off from the public and Mr Wisatrat's body transferred to the Chakri Naruebodindra Medical Institute for a post-mortem examination.

However, airport managers blamed the worker. 

In a statement, Suvarnabhumi International Airport said: 'From the preliminary investigation, it was found that the deceased did not follow safety procedures, which resulted in the accident causing his death.

'Airports of Thailand (AOT) have coordinated with medics and police to inspect the scene with forensics experts. AOT has temporarily blocked off the area.

'We would like to confirm that the accident was not caused by a malfunction of the elevator in the area.

The area was cordoned off from the public and Mr Wisatrat's body transferred to the Chakri Naruebodindra Medical Institute for a post-mortem examination

'The AOT would like to express its condolences to the family of the deceased. We will fully cooperate in the investigation to find the cause of the accident.' 

Airports of Thailand had a market capitalisation of 31 billion US dollars in 2018 making it the world's richest airport operator, according to data from Bloomberg.

However, health and safety incidents have happened at airports operated by state- run company before. 

In September 2023, a passenger's leg was amputated by a faulty travelator at the city's sister facility the Don Mueang International Airport.