SONGKHLA - An AirAsia flight from Hat Yai to Bangkok was delayed for about an hour late Monday afternoon after a pregnant passenger failed to produce proof she was medically fit to fly.
The captain announced that all passengers would have to disembark shortly before Flight FD3109 was scheduled to leave Hat Yai airport at 4.05pm. He said there was a problem concerning the “medical condition” of a passenger, who required a medical certificate to prove she was fit to fly, a passenger said.
All passengers then had to remove their belongings and left the plane to wait in the departure lounge for about an hour, when they were allowed back on board and the flight left.
The customer service section of AirAsia later explained that a passenger who was about 7 months pregnant and her companion had caused the delay because they failed to show proof it was safe for her to travel by air in her condition.
The two passengers were rebooked on a following flight after the airline sorted out the problem.
The airline sent a letter to the director of Hat Yai airport explaining the situation.
Under international aviation safety standards passengers whose pregnancies are between 28 weeks and 34 weeks are required to show a proper medical certificate stating it is safe for them to travel by air. Even after they are allowed to board a plane they still are required to sign a consent form acknowledging they are aware of a possible risk to both their health and the health of their baby, not to mention a possible risk of giving birth on board the aircraft.