Flooding Delays Thai Asian Games Teams at Airport
Flooding in Thailand delayed a Thai Airways flight carrying wrestlers, golfers and rugby players to the 2026 Asian Games in Japan after baggage handlers couldn't report for work, stranding the teams at the airport for over six hours.
BANGKOK — Flooding in Thailand disrupted the travel plans of members of the Thai national team heading to the 2026 Asian Games in Nagoya, Japan, with athletes from wrestling, golf and rugby stranded at the airport for several hours after baggage and sports equipment could not be loaded onto their flight.
The athletes and team officials were scheduled to travel on Thai Airways flight TG644, which was due to depart at 00:05 on 27 September 2026. However, the flight was delayed after baggage-handling staff were unable to report for work due to the flooding. As a result, the athletes' luggage and training equipment could not be loaded onto the aircraft.
Had the flight departed as scheduled, the teams would have had to travel without their baggage and sporting equipment. Thai national rugby coach Navy Capt. Thanyawit Kruasint said the disruption affected both the men's and women's rugby teams, as well as athletes from other sports scheduled to travel on the same flight. The airline initially informed passengers that the flight would be delayed indefinitely.
At 06:40 on 27 September, the athletes and other passengers were still waiting at the airport gate, more than six hours after the scheduled departure time. Thanyawit said he understood the situation and hoped the flooding would ease quickly so baggage-handling staff could return to work.
"But for me, I understand what happened. All we can do is hope the water goes down quickly so the staff can come back to work and handle everyone's baggage."
The athletes and passengers on TG644 eventually departed at 08:00 on 27 September, after waiting at the airport for several hours because of the flooding.
