A foreign tourist sustained serious injuries after being struck by a taxi on a zebra crossing at Phuket International Airport on October 15, as reported by The Phuket Times. The incident has sparked criticism of airport taxis, which have been involved in multiple accidents in the past.
According to the report, the taxi involved was operating with a green registration plate, indicating it was part of the airport taxi service. Witnesses said the foreign victim lost consciousness and suffered a bloody wound to his mouth following the collision.
A photo posted by the news outlet showed the man lying on the ground, still wearing his backpack, with a bystander in a red shirt and an off-duty airport employee assisting him. However, there was no immediate update on the victim’s condition or whether the taxi driver remained at the scene after the accident.
The incident has ignited public backlash, with many expressing frustration over the behavior of airport taxi drivers. Several social media users criticized the driver for failing to stop at the zebra crossing, with comments questioning the driver’s speed within airport premises.
“This happened inside the airport! How fast was the taxi driver going that he couldn’t stop for a pedestrian?” one commenter asked. Others lamented the broader issue of reckless driving among airport taxi drivers, with statements such as, “Airport taxis cause trouble everywhere,” and “More than half of them are terrible drivers.”
Some online commenters expressed concern about the foreign tourist’s perception of Thailand following the incident. “He might want to go home after his first step at the airport,” one person remarked.
The lack of respect for zebra crossings in Thailand also drew criticism, with one user commenting, “What are zebra crossings for if motorists don’t stop?”
Phuket’s airport taxis have long been criticized for dangerous driving and poor service, with many locals sharing that they avoid using them altogether. Public outcry has continued to grow as authorities face increasing pressure to address these recurring incidents.
At the time of writing, further information on the victim’s recovery or any official response from airport authorities remains unavailable.
