Airports of Thailand Plc (AoT) will install fingerprint and face-recognition equipment at Suvarnabhumi airport by the end of next year, following recent criticism of its security measures.
The airport, in Samut Prakan, came under fire from netizens last Friday after it was revealed two women were allowed to enter a restricted area so they could meet South Korean actor Lee Jong-suk as he was picking up his luggage at one of the baggage carousels.
Security camera footage later confirmed the two women were escorted by a customs officer.
Following subsequent criticism of security standards at the airport, Suvarnabhumi deputy general manager Kittipong Kittikachorn held a press briefing Wednesday, and escorted journalists through the same areas the women went.
According to Mr Kittipong, the customs officer who escorted the women was in possession of two "Number Six" cards, which are airport passes normally used by government officials and other airport staff passing between public and restricted areas.
The incident occurred around 9.15pm on Friday, with both women entering Suvarnabhumi's baggage claim area through an airport pass-holder gate directly next to the Excise Department's audit and law enforcement office, on the second floor.
"What we know right now is one card belonged to a female officer, who we saw in the footage, and the other a male officer," Mr Kittipong said. "Investigations are still being conducted regarding whether the man, who was absent from the incident, purposely gave the other officer his card or if it was taken from him.
"We must say that the incident has nothing to do with Suvarnabhumi's usual security standards, as it was purely the result of staff misconduct," he added.
Airport officials have said the investigation could take around 10 days to complete.
Mr Kittipong said Suvarnabhumi is waiting funding to install fingerprint scanners and display screens which will show employees' faces each time they pass through airport security checkpoints.
He said the equipment was due to be installed by 2020. But this could happen sooner in light of the recent events, he added.
Mr Kittipong said there are currently "several thousand" Number Six card holders.
A similar incident occurred in May and involved a man entering a restricted area to welcome another passenger. He used a now-defunct airport security pass to enter the area, and posted the incident on Facebook Live.
The passes, which had no facial recognition, were given to airport staff to perform daily work tasks. AoT said the man had acquired the card from one staff member.
These passes were scrapped in July last year and have since been replaced with cards which have employees' faces printed on them.
Meanwhile, a fan who was waiting for K-Pop star Tiffany Young to arrive at Suvarnabhumi airport yesterday criticised the two women for breaking the law to meet their idol.
She was one of around 100 people waiting for the star in public areas inside and outside the passenger terminal.
"Some fans go to extremes and may go so far as to travel on the same plane as their idol, and follow them when they get off the plane," said the 30-year-old, who asked not to be named.
"It's wrong with regard to both fans and the artist if people break the law to try and meet them."
According to AoT, the customs officers involved in the security breach could be fired, while the two women could be fined up to 100,000 baht and jailed for a maximum of five years for trespassing.