Thai Airways International's captain Chakri Chongsiri has been suspended from his work indefinitely, after he denied three MP members of the People Power Party from boarding flights to Khon Kaen and Udon Thani.

Surin MP Farida Sulaiman, who reportedly wore a jacket with a PPP logo and name on the back, was about to board the TG 1040 flight scheduled to leave Don Muang Airport for Khon Kaen at 6.15am.

But eyewitnesses said the captain came out of the cockpit and announced his flight would not allow "tyrants, PPP MPs or politicians who harm people" to board.

Farida told reporters when she approached the aircraft a man in captain's uniform asked her if she was a PPP MP. When she said yes, the man said she was not allowed to board the flight.

Farida replied, "Thank you for your service", to which the captain smiled and returned to the cockpit.

She identified the captain as

Chakri Chongsiri and said she would make a complaint to Thai executives because international aviation regulations allowed a flight captain to deny only passengers who appeared drunk or carried a weapon.

Jamsri Sukchotirat, chairman of the Thai Airways labour union, said the captain

has been responsive to the political situation and had developed a distrust of the government for some time.

"It's part of his [personal] civil obedience," Jamsri said, noting that this is not the union's protest against the government following the fatal clashes street between anti-government protesters and police.

Two other MPs who had to change their flights were Chaiya Promma of Nong Bua Lumphu and Chompu Chantatong of Nong Khai.

Both were to board TG 1002 from Don Muang to Udon Thani at 9.20am, but the captain of the flight, believed to be Chakri, would not allow them to board.

Chaiya said Thai Air, its union and aviationauthorities should take action against the captain for mixing his political views and agenda with his duties, damaging the service sector's good image.

He said he would table this case with the Parliament's Committee on Transport next week to explain why they were prevented from boarding the flights.

Chaiya said he might not file a formal complaint because other Thai ground officials disagreeing with Chakri's action had apologised and taken care of them.

Thai executives yesterday told a press conference they would summon Chakri about the incident.

Union president Jamsri said it was within the authority of a flight captain to deny certain passengers if their presence onboard caused him discomfort.