Promised China trip never booked, 45 students stranded at airport

An investigation has been ordered after 45 Thai students were stranded at Suvarnabhumi Airport after being promised a field trip to China, only to learn there were no flight tickets for them on the departure date.

Parents filed complaints with airport police on Thursday night, reporting total losses of more than 1.7 million baht.

The students were from schools in Bangkok, Nonthaburi and Chon Buri, according to the Ministry of Education.

An initial investigation found that the programme organiser, reportedly a man, had claimed to have signed a memorandum of understanding with a university in China, Education Minister Prasert Chantararuangthong said on Friday.

The organiser invited students to apply for the trip, which was scheduled for Oct 15-26.

The programme cost 39,900 baht per student, with parents making payments to the organiser, who communicated with them through a Line group, Mr Prasert said.

The minister outlined the events leading up to the scheduled departure.

On Oct 11, the organiser suddenly changed the destination from Xi’an to Beijing, saying the accommodation was not ready.

On Oct 13, the organiser confirmed the trip to Beijing and instructed the students to meet at the airport at 3pm on Thursday.

The students and accompanying teachers were scheduled to board a Thai VietJet flight at 6.20pm, but they learned that no tickets had been booked for them.

The airline checked the arrangements and confirmed that the group could not travel.

On the same day, the organiser refunded some parents from just one of the schools, while others were still waiting for their money, Mr Prasert said.

The minister said he had set up a fact-finding committee and vowed strict disciplinary and criminal action against anyone found guilty, regardless of their rank or position in government.

Parents reportedly told the media that they had trusted the organiser because he claimed to work at the Office of the Basic Education Commission (Obec) and appeared on official websites and television programmes in connection with a university.