Thailand's national flag carrier has denied claims that it has been involved in transporting military aircraft parts for F-35 fighter jets to Israel, insisting that it strictly complies with international aviation and customs regulations in all cargo operations.
The airline’s clarification was issued after a small group of protesters gathered in Federation Square in Melbourne, accusing the airline of helping to ship jet parts to Israel which, they claimed, were being used in military operations in Gaza.
They also called for a ban on Thai Airways.
In its statement, Thai Airways International stated that it transports cargo and mail in strict compliance with customs procedures and security screening requirements in all countries to which it operates and in accordance with customs procedures and security screening processes required by the laws and regulations of all countries it serves.
Thai Airways explained that it also strictly adheres to international aviation standards governing the transport of Dangerous Goods, allowing only items that comply with safety requirements and the laws of origin, destination and transit countries and does not permit the transport of any cargo that fails to meet applicable legal and safety requirements.
All shipments handled by the company must comply with relevant domestic and international regulations, it stated.
The company also emphasised that compliance with national and international laws, regulations and safety standards has always been a core operating principle, aimed at ensuring passenger confidence in the safety of its flight operations.
File photo: F-35 Lightning II fighter jets
Last year, David Shoebridge, the Australian Green party’s defence and foreign affairs spokesperson claimed, during a Senate hearing, that Australia has been secretly sending spare parts for F-35 Lightning II fighter jets to Israel via Bangkok, despite repeated statements from the Australian government that it would not supply such equipment.
Cargo records show that aircraft parts were shipped on flights from Sydney to Tel Aviv, with some consignments transiting through Bangkok. F-35 parts were collected from Williamtown in New South Wales on September 8th and placed on flight TG472 from Sydney to Bangkok on September 17th last year, claimed Shoebridge.
The parts were then transshipped to El AL flight LY82 from Bangkok to Tel Aviv on September 18th, before being delivered to Nevatim Airbase in Israel the following day.
