Thailand sets rules on "child angel dolls" aboard airplanes

BANGKOK, January 27 (TNA) - The Thai Ministry of Transport has ordered that standard rules be set for passengers carrying "child angel dolls" aboard airplanes. Thai Transport Minister Arkhom Termpittayapaisith stressed on January 26 that airlines need to have standard regulations to govern passengers carrying "child angel dolls" aboard airplanes, as some airlines have set their own practices to serve the kind of passengers. Arkhom told journalists that he has assigned his ministry's Department of Airports and the Civil Aviation Authority of Thailand (CAAT) to set the standard rules. Arkhom noted that the practice by some passengers does not violate the safety standards of the International Civil Aviation Organization, (ICAO), as the dolls can be kept in overhead compartments or put on booked seats. The minister explained that "child angel dolls" are considered a kind of luggage and they must be X-rayed before being taken aboard any plane. The minister said Thai airport authorities have, however, been instructed to carefully check the dolls, citing that Tuesday's seizure of a doll stuffed with methamphetamine pills at Chiang Mai International Airport in the Thai North resulted from the security measure. (TNA)