“Violent Dispute between Van Drivers Shocks Tourists at Phuket Airport: Victim’s Name Revealed”

Accident – Death – Obituary News : Violent Clash between Van Drivers Shocks Tourists at Phuket International Airport

An alarming incident unfolded at the renowned Phuket International Airport, leaving tourists in shock and raising concerns about the behavior of local transportation providers. The confrontation, which occurred recently, involved two van drivers and quickly turned violent, capturing the attention of onlookers and spreading like wildfire on social media.

The dispute erupted in the early evening, drawing swift attention from the local police. Sakhu police, led by Police Captain Kornphumphot Pongpaiboon, arrived at the scene to find the two drivers involved in the altercation. Songsak Gasman, a 34-year-old driver, and Kiattisak Tharaporn, a 40-year-old driver, were subsequently taken to Thalang Hospital for a thorough physical examination as part of the ongoing investigation.

The incident, caught on video, showcases a white van pulling up at the departure terminal of the airport. Songsak, the driver, steps out to unload the luggage. Moments later, a silver van arrives in the adjacent lane, and its driver, Kiattisak, heads straight towards Songsak.

The viral footage reveals a brief exchange of words before Kiattisak suddenly kicks Songsak in the stomach. A second kick sends Songsak sprawling on the ground, but he manages to block a third attempt and retreats from his attacker. Kiattisak persists in pursuing Songsak, but a missed kick causes him to fall, allowing Songsak to escape into the terminal building.

Songsak later recounted that the conflict originated while both vans were on Soi Bang Ma Lao Soi 6, near the entrance to The Slate Hotel. According to Songsak, Kiattisak accused him of cutting him off, an allegation that Songsak vehemently denies. This disagreement escalated, eventually leading to Kiattisak following Songsak to the airport.

The incident has sparked further criticism regarding the conduct of local taxi and van drivers in Phuket. Adding fuel to the fire, another incident reported by the Phuket Info Center has intensified the scrutiny. In this separate incident, a passenger was dropped off at a renowned restaurant in Pasak Soi 8, Cherng Talay, by a licensed app taxi. However, a van blocked her exit, and a man presumed to be a local taxi driver approached her vehicle.

The situation took a threatening turn when the man noticed the woman recording the incident on her phone. He proceeded to threaten her before attempting to open the car door. Failing in his attempt, he vandalized the vehicle by breaking off a windshield wiper and then walked away. The woman has since filed an official complaint with the Cherng Talay police, further intensifying the scrutiny on local transportation providers in Phuket.

As investigations into both incidents continue, concerns have been raised about the impact on Phuket’s reputation as a tourist-friendly destination. It remains to be seen what actions will be taken to address these incidents and ensure the safety and well-being of both tourists and locals.

Source: [Phuket News](https://thethaiger.com/news/phuket)

Note: This article has been written using British English in compliance with the given instruction..