In recent years, tourists have flocked Mai Kao Beach in order to get the perfect social media pic, due to the beaches insanely close proximity to Phuket International Airport.
On Instagram alone, there are over 23,765 photos tagged at Mai Kao Beach featuring tourists posing on the sand set against the backdrop of a plane flying extremely low to the ground.
Now though, Thai officials are beginning to crack down on the photo takers, citing the popular tourist activity as dangerous and distracting to pilots passing by.
And people who get caught snapping an Instagram-worthy pic in the beach’s new safety zone could face serious punishments.
According to Wichit Kaeothaithiam, the Deputy Chief at Phuket International Airport, the maximum penalty is the death sentence.
Although the prospect of a criminal case in Thailand is worrisome, Wichit’s statement is most likely hyperbole, which seeks to dissuade future tourists from going to the beach for an airplane-themed photoshoot, realistic penalties could still be stiff.
For example, under the Air Navigation Act, tourists who break the law and enter the safety zone could face fines up to 40,000 baht or jail time.
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