Brit killed on turbulent-hit Singapore Airlines flight – dwell updates
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A 73-year-old British passenger on board a Singapore Airlines has been killed and seven others are fighting for their lives after extreme turbulence caused mayhem in the cabin and forced pilots to make an emergency landing.
After leaving London last night at 22.17pm local time with 211 passengers and 18 crew on board, the Boeing 777 plane encountered severe difficulty after hitting an air pocket near Myanmar airspace which resulted in a sharp drop of 6,000 feet in five minutes.
Terrified passengers described how they had little warning to strap on their seatbelts before the aircraft plummeted, with one recounting how people were ‘launched into the ceiling’ as the plane fell through the sky.
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Singapore Airlines turbulence: What we know this afternoon
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Pictured: Emergency services working late into the night at Suvarnabhumi International Airport
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‘We pray for their safe return and smooth recovery for those who are injured. We are still getting more information from Bangkok and will provide further updates in due course.’
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Pictured: Emergency services remain at Bangkok airport
Singapore government to send investigators to Bangkok
The Transport Safety Investigation Bureau (TSIB) of the Ministry of Transport (Singapore) is investigating the Singapore Airlines flight SQ321 incident. TSIB is in touch with its Thai counterparts and will be deploying investigators to Bangkok.
Pilot declared medical emergency after ‘sudden extreme turbulence’ over Irrawaddy Basin
Singapore Airlines (SIA) flight SQ321, operating from London (Heathrow) to Singapore on 20 May 2024, encountered sudden extreme turbulence over the Irrawaddy Basin at 37,000 feet about 10 hours after departure. The pilot declared a medical emergency and diverted the aircraft to Bangkok, and landed at 1545hrs local time on 21 May 2024.
We can confirm that there were multiple injuries and one fatality on board the Boeing 777-300ER aircraft.
As of 1950hrs Singapore time on 21 May 2024, 18 individuals had been hospitalised. Another 12 were being treated in hospitals. The remaining passengers and crew were being examined and given treatment, where necessary, at Suvarnabhumi International Airport in Bangkok.
There were a total of 211 passengers and 18 crew on board.
The nationalities of the passengers are as follows: 56 from Australia, 2 from Canada, 1 from Germany, 3 from India, 2 from Indonesia, 1 from Iceland, 4 from Ireland, 1 from Israel, 16 from Malaysia, 2 from Myanmar, 23 from New Zealand, 5 from the Philippines, 41 from Singapore, 1 from South Korea, 2 from Spain, 47 from the United Kingdom, and 4 from the United States of America.
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One minute he was just sitting down wearing a seatbelt, the next minute, he must have blacked out because he found himself on the floor with other people. There was water everywhere, blood everywhere, people’s belongings just strewn all over the plane.
When he found out that somebody had died, you can imagine the realisation that it could have been him, that he was so close to dying.
I think it’s going to have a lasting impact on him, coming so close to death. It’s just going to reinforce his fears.
Watch: Travellers stretchered off plane after emergency landing
Pictured: Injured passengers treated at Bangkok airport
Boeing in contact with Singapore Airlines
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Breaking:Singapore Airlines – 30 passengers in hospital and team heading to Bangkok
Singapore Airlines flight SQ321, operating from London (Heathrow) to Singapore on 20 May 2024, encountered severe turbulence en-route. The aircraft diverted to Bangkok and landed at 1545hrs local time.
We can confirm that there are multiple injuries and one fatality on board the Boeing 777-300ER aircraft.
As of 1950hrs Singapore time on 21 May 2024, 18 individuals have been hospitalised. 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.
There were a total of 211 passengers and 18 crew on board.
Singapore Airlines offers its deepest condolences to the family of the deceased. 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.
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.
Pictured: Carnage inside Singapore Airline flight SQ321
Pictured: Passengers disembark Singapore Airlines flight after emergency landing
Breaking:Ten passengers seriously injured – reports state
Turbulence: What you need to know
Breaking:Passenger – ‘Plane was shaking before dramatic drop’
Suddenly the aircraft starts tilting up and there was shaking so I started bracing for what was happening, and very suddenly there was a very dramatic drop so everyone seated and not wearing seatbelt was launched immediately into the ceiling,’ he said.
Some people hit their heads on the baggage cabins overhead and dented it, they hit the places where lights and masks are and broke straight through it.
Breaking:Passenger reveals what happened inside horror flight
I was on that flight and helped as much as I could. Those not injured (including me) are in a holding area at Bangkok airport. My heart goes out to the gentleman who lost his life and his poor wife. Awful experience.
Lots of people injured – including the air stewards who were stoic and did everything they could. Bangkok emergency services quick to respond. Very little warning. The seatbelt sign came on, I put on my seatbelt straightaway then the plane just dropped.
Shouted for a defribulator. Passengers with medical training helping as much as they could. CPR on the poor gentleman that passed. Another passenger laid flat in aisle further behind me. Not sure what happened with them. Wish I could have helped more.
People’s belongings scattered, coffee and water splattered the ceiling. Surreal. So many injured people. Head lascerations, bleeding ears. A lady was screaming in pain with a bad back. I couldn’t help her – just got her water.
Singapore Airlines flight ‘may have hit air pocket’
There’s some suggestion the flight hit an air pocket before it had to make this emergency landing.There are some images circulating on social media that show parts of the plane inside and a lot of scattered debris.
Watch: Ambulances race to Bangkok runway after plane’s emergency landing
Singapore government to provide assistance for passengers
I am deeply saddened to learn about the incident onboard Singapore Airlines flight SQ321 from London Heathrow to Singapore.
The plane had encountered severe turbulence en-route and had to be diverted to Bangkok. Singapore Airlines has confirmed that there are injuries and one fatality on board.
Ministry of Transport, Singapore, Singapore Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Civil Aviation Authority of Singapore and Changi Airport officials as well as SIA staff are providing support to the affected passengers and their families.
My deepest condolences to the family of the deceased.
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Pictures: Emergency vehicles on the runway in Bangkok
Singapore Airlines statement
Singapore Airlines flight #SQ321, operating from London (Heathrow) to Singapore on 20 May 2024, encountered severe turbulence en-route. The aircraft diverted to Bangkok and landed at 1545hrs local time on 21 May 2024
We can confirm that there are injuries and one fatality on board the Boeing 777-300ER. There were a total of 211 passengers and 18 crew on board
Singapore Airlines offers its deepest condolences to the family of the deceased
Our priority is to provide all possible assistance to all passengers and crew on board the aircraft. We are working with the local authorities in Thailand to provide the necessary medical assistance, and sending a team to Bangkok to provide any additional assistance needed
We will provide regular updates on our Facebook and X accounts
Singapore Airlines turbulence: Everything we know so far
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