diff --git a/js/gallery-thumbnails.js b/js/gallery-thumbnails.js
index e532266..7d48f1e 100644
--- a/js/gallery-thumbnails.js
+++ b/js/gallery-thumbnails.js
@@ -8,15 +8,101 @@
   // ============================================================
   // Gallery Thumbnails Module
   // ============================================================
-  // Thumbnail loading now relies on native loading="lazy" attribute.
-  // The browser handles deferred loading, connection limits, and
-  // automatic cancellation on navigation.
-  //
-  // This module is kept as a stub for potential future enhancements.
+  // Uses fetch() with AbortController to load thumbnails.
+  // This allows true HTTP request cancellation on navigation,
+  // unlike native loading="lazy" where queued requests block.
   Luxtools.GalleryThumbnails = (function () {
+    var controller = null;
+    var maxConcurrent = 4;
+    var activeCount = 0;
+    var queue = [];
+
+    function abortAll() {
+      if (controller) {
+        controller.abort();
+        controller = null;
+      }
+      queue = [];
+      activeCount = 0;
+    }
+
+    function processQueue() {
+      if (!controller) return;
+      while (activeCount < maxConcurrent && queue.length > 0) {
+        var img = queue.shift();
+        loadThumb(img);
+      }
+    }
+
+    function loadThumb(img) {
+      if (!controller) return;
+
+      var src = img.getAttribute('data-src');
+      if (!src) {
+        processQueue();
+        return;
+      }
+
+      activeCount++;
+
+      fetch(src, { signal: controller.signal })
+        .then(function (response) {
+          if (!response.ok) throw new Error('HTTP ' + response.status);
+          return response.blob();
+        })
+        .then(function (blob) {
+          img.src = URL.createObjectURL(blob);
+          img.removeAttribute('data-src');
+        })
+        .catch(function (err) {
+          // Aborted or failed - ignore
+          if (err.name !== 'AbortError') {
+            // Keep data-src for potential retry, just log
+          }
+        })
+        .finally(function () {
+          activeCount--;
+          processQueue();
+        });
+    }
+
+    function queueThumb(img) {
+      if (!controller) return;
+      if (!img.getAttribute('data-src')) return;
+      if (img.getAttribute('data-queued') === '1') return;
+      img.setAttribute('data-queued', '1');
+      queue.push(img);
+      processQueue();
+    }
+
     function init() {
-      // Native lazy loading handles everything.
-      // No JavaScript intervention needed.
+      var imgs = document.querySelectorAll(
+        'div.luxtools-gallery img.luxtools-thumb[data-src], div.luxtools-imagebox img[data-src]'
+      );
+      if (!imgs || !imgs.length) return;
+
+      // Create abort controller for all requests
+      controller = new AbortController();
+
+      // Abort all pending requests on navigation
+      window.addEventListener('beforeunload', abortAll);
+      window.addEventListener('pagehide', abortAll);
+
+      // Use IntersectionObserver to trigger loading
+      if ('IntersectionObserver' in window) {
+        var io = new IntersectionObserver(function (entries) {
+          entries.forEach(function (entry) {
+            if (!entry.isIntersecting) return;
+            queueThumb(entry.target);
+            io.unobserve(entry.target);
+          });
+        }, { rootMargin: '200px' });
+
+        imgs.forEach(function (img) { io.observe(img); });
+      } else {
+        // Fallback: queue all
+        imgs.forEach(queueThumb);
+      }
     }
 
     return {
diff --git a/src/Output.php b/src/Output.php
index d96e61a..79cb346 100644
--- a/src/Output.php
+++ b/src/Output.php
@@ -88,7 +88,7 @@ class Output
                 $caption = $label;
             }
 
-            // Build thumbnail URL - rely on native loading="lazy" for deferred loading
+            // Build thumbnail URL - JavaScript will load via fetch() for cancellability
             $thumbUrl = $this->withQueryParams($url, [
                 'thumb' => 1,
                 'w' => $genThumbW,
@@ -107,12 +107,10 @@ class Output
                 . '>';
             $renderer->doc .= '<img'
                 . ' class="luxtools-thumb"'
-                . ' src="' . $thumbSrc . '"'
+                . ' data-src="' . $thumbSrc . '"'
                 . ' alt=""'
                 . ' width="' . $thumbW . '"'
                 . ' height="' . $thumbH . '"'
-                . ' loading="lazy"'
-                . ' decoding="async"'
                 . ' />';
             $renderer->doc .= '<span class="luxtools-gallery-caption">' . $caption . '</span>';
             $renderer->doc .= '</a>';