BANGKOK- SriLankan Airlines (UL) has suspended its Country Manager in Bangkok (BKK) after a physical altercation with flight crew members and a station manager at Suvarnabhumi International Airport (BKK).
The incident took place on April 2, 2026, during pre-departure preparations for SriLankan Airlines flight UL403, which operates from Bangkok (BKK) to Bandaranaike International Airport (CMB) in Colombo.
The airline issued an official statement on April 16, 2026, describing the Country Manager’s actions as a breach of company rules and regulations. The disruption caused a one-hour delay to flight UL403, which arrived at Katunayake at 11:50 PM.
Both the Airline Pilots Guild of Sri Lanka and the Flight Attendants’ Union have written to the airline management demanding a formal inquiry, Lanka Leader reported.
Manager Physically Confronts Multiple Crew Members
According to reports, the SriLankan Airlines Country Manager based in Thailand entered the passenger check-in area at Suvarnabhumi International Airport on April 2, 2026.
He allegedly assaulted the cabin crew supervisor of flight UL403 first. He then moved to the airport ticket counter and attacked the female station manager on duty.
The flight’s captain and other crew members were also reportedly assaulted during the incident. Sources stated that the official seized the crew members’ identity cards and threw them aside. Airport police at Suvarnabhumi detained the Country Manager following the confrontation, but released him later the same day.
The incident caused a one-hour delay in the departure of UL403. The flight, which typically operates daily on an Airbus A320 between Bangkok and Colombo, arrived at Bandaranaike International Airport well past its scheduled time.
Official Statement
SriLankan Airlines released an official statement on April 16, 2026, confirming the incident. The airline stated that its Country Manager entered the check-in area and became involved in a physical confrontation with the operating flight crew and the Station Manager.
The airline described the Country Manager’s conduct as “unlawful, unwarranted and in breach of company rules and regulations.” Company officials reported the matter to airport police in Bangkok immediately, and investigations remain underway.
SriLankan Airlines confirmed that it took immediate steps to suspend the official from service. The airline also instructed the Country Manager to return to Sri Lanka pending the outcome of the investigation.
Crew Members Had Previously Raised Concerns
Sources revealed that cabin crew members had raised complaints about the Country Manager’s conduct on multiple occasions before the April 2 incident. Crew members reportedly flagged concerns about the official’s behavior to the airline’s management. However, the airline’s leadership allegedly ignored all previous complaints.
This pattern of unaddressed grievances adds a significant dimension to the incident. It raises questions about whether the airline’s internal reporting mechanisms adequately protect crew members from workplace misconduct.
Pilots Guild and Flight Attendants’ Union Demand Inquiry
Following the Bangkok incident, two major unions representing SriLankan Airlines crew have taken formal action. The Airline Pilots Guild of Sri Lanka and the Flight Attendants’ Union both sent letters to the airline’s management. The unions have called for a thorough inquiry into the incident and the Country Manager’s conduct.
This development comes at a time when SriLankan Airlines already faces strained relations with its crew unions. The airline’s cabin crew launched a work-to-rule campaign in April 2025 over unresolved complaints about benefits and working conditions. Pilots have also raised concerns about staff shortages and low wages in recent years.
The unions’ response to the Bangkok incident signals growing frustration among crew members over management’s handling of internal complaints and crew welfare. The outcome of the demanded inquiry could set a precedent for how SriLankan Airlines addresses misconduct involving senior officials.
Airport police in Bangkok continue to investigate the physical altercation. The Country Manager remains suspended from service. SriLankan Airlines has not disclosed the official’s name or provided a timeline for the internal inquiry.
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