Section 230 — Endangering air traffic signals
English translation
Whoever causes danger to air traffic by destroying, damaging, or rendering unusable the signalling marks provided for the safety of air traffic shall be liable to imprisonment from one year to ten years and a fine from twenty thousand baht to two hundred thousand baht.
This English translation is provided for reference only and has not yet been firm-verified — always rely on the Thai original.
Firm annotation
Section 230 is the air-traffic counterpart to the land and water provisions (Sections 226 and 228) in the Chapter on Offences Causing Public Dangers, but it carries a distinctly heavier penalty band, reflecting the catastrophic potential of aviation accidents. Its elements are an act that causes danger to air traffic by destroying, damaging, or rendering unusable the signalling marks provided for its safety. Unlike the land and water offences, both imprisonment and a fine are mandatory on conviction, with imprisonment set at one to ten years and the fine at 20,000 to 200,000 baht. It complements Sections 231 and 232, which protect aircraft in flight directly.
Why this matters in practice
Interfering with air-navigation aids is punished far more heavily than the equivalent land or water offence, and because both imprisonment and a fine are mandatory, a fine-only outcome is not available. This is a public-danger crime prosecuted by the state and is not compoundable. Defence work usually addresses whether the mark was genuinely an air-traffic safety signal, whether the accused caused the damage, and intent, and any resulting accident could bring far more serious liability under related aviation provisions. For general context see our overview of criminal law in Thailand.
Frequently asked questions
Why is Section 230 punished more heavily than the road or water equivalents?
Because interfering with air-navigation aids can cause aviation disasters. Both imprisonment (one to ten years) and a fine (20,000 to 200,000 baht) are imposed on conviction.
Does an aircraft accident have to occur for Section 230 to apply?
No. The offence targets destroying or disabling air-traffic safety signals in a way that causes danger to air traffic; an actual accident is not required.