Passengers aboard the Singapore Airlines flight witnessed scenes of chaos unfolding in just a few seconds.
Severe turbulence during a flight from London to Singapore resulted in an emergency landing at Bangkok. Sadly, one person lost their life and several others were injured.
A 73-year-old man from Britain, who was on a trip with his wife, has been confirmed to have passed away. Authorities at Thailand's Suvarnabhumi Airport have stated that an autopsy will be conducted to determine the cause of death. They have mentioned that a heart attack is a potential reason.
Several individuals sustained head injuries, and officials reported that a few were unable to walk upon disembarking from the aircraft.
Meanwhile, travelers aboard the plane have been sharing their stories about what happened during the flight.
Passenger Andrew Davies informed BBC News that there was a terrible screaming and a thud during the brief moment when the plane was descending.
He mentioned that the flight attendants did their best to assist the numerous injured passengers who were hurt when the aircraft unexpectedly descended.
The turbulence caused significant damage to the inside of the plane, resulting in numerous injuries.
Dzafran Azmir, a 28-year-old student, shared with Reuters about the plane's sudden drop.
The airplane unexpectedly tilted upwards, causing shaking. I prepared myself for what was happening. Suddenly, there was a dramatic drop, causing unseatbelted passengers to be launched into the ceiling.
Some individuals accidentally bumped their heads on the overhead baggage compartments, causing dents. They hit the areas where the lights and masks are located and broke right through them.
Singapore Airlines has reported that flight SQ321 experienced severe turbulence over the Irrawaddy Basin at 37,000 feet, approximately 10 hours after departing from London (Heathrow) to Singapore on May 20, 2024.
30 people are being treated in hospital. (Viralpress)
The pilot announced a medical crisis and changed the plane's course to Bangkok. The aircraft touched down at 3:45 PM local time on May 21, 2024.
We have received confirmation that there were several injuries and one death on the Boeing 777-300ER plane.
At 7:00 PM Singapore time on May 21, 2024, 18 people were taken to the hospital. 12 more were receiving treatment in hospitals.
At Suvarnabhumi International Airport in Bangkok, the remaining passengers and crew members were undergoing examinations and receiving necessary treatments.
A total of 211 passengers and 18 crew members were on board. The passengers came from various countries, including Australia (56), Canada (2), Germany (1), India (3), Indonesia (2), Iceland (1), Ireland (4), Israel (1), Malaysia (16), Myanmar (2), New Zealand (23), the Philippines (5), Singapore (41), South Korea (1), Spain (2), the United Kingdom (47), and the United States of America (4).
Passengers commended the cabin crew's response to the unexpected and severe damage.
Singapore Airlines expresses its sincere sympathies to the family of the deceased. We are truly sorry for the distressing incident that affected our passengers and crew members during this flight.
During this challenging period, we are offering all the essential support required. We are collaborating with our colleagues and the authorities in Thailand to ensure the necessary assistance is provided.
A group from Singapore Airlines is heading to Bangkok to offer extra help if required.
SIA is collaborating with the appropriate authorities to investigate this incident.
