A passenger on a Boeing Singapore Airlines Jet is dead, and at least 18 others are hospitalized after flight SQ321 from London Heathrow Airport on Monday encountered severe turbulence at 37,000 feet over the Irrawaddy Basin on its way to Singapore.
The flight was diverted to Bangkok after the pilot declared a medical emergency and landed on Tuesday at 3:45 p.m. local time, according to the airline.
The airline confirmed on social media platform X that there was a fatality on board along with multiple injuries.
Subsequently, on Facebook, the airline gave more details about the condition of the flight’s passengers.
“As of 1950hrs Singapore time (7:50 p.m.) on 21 May 2024, 18 individuals have been hospitalized,” the airline’s post read. “Another 12 are being treated in hospitals. The remaining passengers and crew are being examined and given treatment, where necessary, at Suvarnabhumi International Airport in Bangkok.”
The aircraft, a Boeing 777-300ER, typically carries 360-380 passengers, but the airline said there were 211 passengers and 18 crew on the flight.
An update from the airline said that 56 passengers were from Australia, 47 from the United Kingdom, 41 from Singapore, 23 each from Myanmar and New Zealand, 16 from Malaysia, and a handful from a number of other countries including four from the United States.
The airline was “deeply” apologetic about the turbulence and expressed condolences to the deceased passenger’s family.
It said it was assisting passengers and others who might need to seek treatment or identify a loved one who had been injured.
“Singapore Airlines offers its deepest condolences to the family of the deceased,” the statement read. “We deeply apologise for the traumatic experience that our passengers and crew members suffered on this flight. We are providing all necessary assistance during this difficult time.”
The airline also said it was working with authorities in Thailand and that it had sent a team from the airline to provide more assistance.
“We are working with our colleagues and the local authorities in Thailand to provide the necessary assistance. A Singapore Airlines team is on the way to Bangkok to provide any additional assistance needed,” the statement went on.
In addition, several phone numbers were provided so that relatives who may have had a family member on the flight could get information: “Relatives seeking information may call the Singapore Airlines hotlines at +65 6542 3311 (Singapore), 1800-845-313 (Australia), and 080-0066-8194 (the United Kingdom).”
A 73-year-old British man died during the incident, likely due to a heart attack, Bangkok Suvarnabhumi Airport general manager Kittipong Kittikachorn told a press conference.
Passengers reported a sudden drop in altitude during the turbulence and that any unsecured passengers were thrown into the ceiling of the aircraft or against the overhead bins.
“I saw things lying everywhere and many air crew injured,” Mr. Kittikachorn said of the aftermath.
The airline promised more updates on its Facebook and X account as the situation continues to unfold.
No information was given about whether injured passengers had been asked to remain in their seats or put on seatbelts, which is standard protocol when turbulence occurs.
It was also not known whether the injured or deceased passenger had complied with such a request or if it had been made.
However, Mr. Kittikachorn said most passengers he had spoken to said they had been wearing their seatbelts.
The ensuing investigation into what happened will likely shed some light on whether the aircraft had been malfunctioning to cause the turbulence to be felt or make it worse.
Boeing has been under investigation after allegations that its manufacturing facilities had multiple safety violations.
There have also been a series of incidents involving Boeing aircraft, including a door panel blowing off while a flight was in progress.
Most of the problems involved the Boeing 737 aircraft.
