Muay Thai boxer shares near-death experience on Qatar flight

A Muay Thai boxer recounted his near-death experience when he and other passengers were stranded for three hours on a Qatar Airways flight from Greece to Qatar, even though a fire broke out at the back of the aircraft.

The Muay Thai boxer, known as Thananchai Sit Song Phi Nong, visited the city of Patras in Greece to participate in the IFMA World Muaythai Championships.

After the competition in Greece, Thananchai, 48 other Thai boxers, and team members, along with athletes from other countries, travelled from Athens to Doha, Qatar, via Qatar Airways flight QR204.

ThaiRath reported that the unexpected incident took place after Thananchai and the other passengers were seated, and the plane was preparing for takeoff. The air conditioning and engine stopped working, and the pilot attempted to restart the engine three times but failed.

The cabin crew and airline team spent about three hours trying to solve the issue without providing details to passengers. They were left in the cabin until some passengers started bleeding from their noses, while others had to use emergency oxygen to breathe. Children began crying because of the commotion and lack of air.

Passengers protested to the airline crew and demanded to disembark from the aircraft until the staff finally agreed.

At the airport in Athens, a foreign woman who witnessed the incident from an airport terminal recorded the event. The woman shared the video with the Thai boxer team, showing grey smoke coming from the back of the aircraft.

Firefighters and airline team members were trying to extinguish the fire while passengers on the plane were unaware of any details. This video was shared with other passengers, raising questions about the airline’s safety measures.

Thananchai spoke about the experience with ThaiRath in an interview today, June 11.

“I was shocked when I saw the video. I feel lucky to have survived. It was very hot inside the aircraft. I saw a lot of smoke coming from the back of the plane in the video and realised why it was so hot. I was covered in sweat. I was there for three hours and felt like I was suffocating.”

On the airline’s official Facebook page, some passengers and their family members mentioned the incident in the comment section, but the airline has not yet issued an official clarification on the matter.

Thananchai competed against Constantine Shakhtarin of Russia and lost 27-30. Thai boxers won a total of six gold, two silver and four bronze medals.