Thailand imposes harsh penalty on those take selfie with landing plane closely

Those take selfie with landing planes on the runway along the beach near Phuket International Airport in south Thailand will face heavy punishment including death penalty, Thai local media reported on Friday.

According to Phuket News, Phuket International Airport (PIA) has put in place a safety zone and warning system at the end of the runway along Mai Khao Beach to protect a growing number of beachgoers who visit that area to take photographs and videos of landing aircraft.

Thairath newspaper said that people need to stay away from the restricted zone for safety reason, adding that any one who fails to observe the regulation will face a jail term of between five to 20 years, a life sentence or even the death penalty according to the Air Aviation Act 1978.

The warning system is said to be installed in Thai, English and Chinese. Additional officials or security volunteers will reportedly help advise and warn people from this area.

Phuket, a famous island in south Thailand known as pearl of the Andaman Sea, owns Thailand's most popular beaches.

Phuket International Airport is in the northern part of the island, immediately next to Mai Khao beach where the finish of the landing strip is. The beach, long and empty, offers a spectacular view of plane's taking off and landing. Spotting planes along with taking selfie is a hobby for special sort of people.

People who stay too close to a takeoff or landing plane are at high risk as the noise and the heat for the jet engine will hurt them, some captains said.

The airport said they have placed barb wire along the danger zone to keep people out. People can come to the beach as normal but cannot use the restricted area to take photos or videos.

source: Xinhua