The infamous flight, SQ321 from London to Singapore hit a mid-air tragedy on Tuesday that has left many with brain and spine injuries, also left one dead
The Boeing 777-300ER hit what an airline official described as “sudden extreme turbulence” over Myanmar, sending passengers and crew flying and slamming some into the ceiling. The flight, SQ321 from London to Singapore on Tuesday, made an emergency diversion to Bangkok. Of the 211 passengers and 18 crew members onboard, 104 were injured. Some were treated for minor injuries and continued their travels. About 79 remained in Bangkok on Thursday, with most still in hospital.
The plane was travelling at the consistent altitude of 37,000ft when it suddenly pitched down 6,000ft in about three minutes. At 3.03pm local time the flight begun its diversion to Bangkok where it landed at 3:45pm. The airline said the “Boeing 777 carrying 211 passengers – mostly from Australia, Britain, New Zealand or Singapore, encountered severe turbulence on its way from Heathrow.”
Flight attendants had been serving breakfast at that time. Coffee and cups of water were thrown into the air, people’s phone, shoes and cushions were flung around. Videos from inside of the cabin showed oxygen masks hanging from the ceiling, and the floor covered in food and drinks, with luggage scattered. Patches of blood stained the cabin carpets.
Aftermath of Singapore Airlines flight 321 from London to Singapore which had to divert to Bangkok due to severe turbulence. One death passenger and several injured. Blood everywhere, destroyed cabin. #singaporeairlines #sq321 pic.twitter.com/C2FgrVt9yv
— Josh Cahill (@gotravelyourway) May 21, 2024
Aftermath of the tragedy
Ambulances and emergency services were deployed at Bangkok’s Suvarnabhumi airport where the injured were brought, among whom were 70 wounded people, including some with minor conditions. One man was brought out on a stretcher to be transferred via ambulance. Another was brought out in a wheelchair. In a statement the airline said, “Flight SQ321 encountered a sudden extreme turbulence over the Irrawaddy basin.. The pilot declared a medical emergency and diverted the aircraft to Bangkok.”
Passengers were being kept in a special part of Suvarnabhumi airport and given dinner, before a Thai Airways Flight carrying on with those able to travel was expected to takeoff for Singapore later on Tuesday evening. The 73-year old male passenger, Geoffrey Kitchen, from Thornburg, who lost his life in the tragedy was travelling with his wife to a holiday in Australia via Singapore. The Thai authorities said, he said a heart condition and probably had a heart attack.
Singapore Airlines has confirmed the nationalities of the passengers onboard as 56 from Australia, two from Canada, one from Germany, three from India, two from Indonesia, one from Iceland, four from Ireland, one from Israel, 16 from Malaysia, two from Myanmar, 23 from New Zealand, five from the Philippines, 41 from Singapore, one from South Korea, two from Spain, 47 from U.K and four from US.
Passengers who had minor injures and later flew to their assigned locations, narrated at-length tragedy they experienced in interviews with various news outlets. One passenger, Dzafran Azmir, 28-year-old student, told Reuters, “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 a seatbelt was launched immediately into the ceiling.”
Singapore airline commences investigation into the tragedy
Singapore airlines said it was working with relevant authorities on the investigation into the air-tragedy. The airline has not suffered any major incidences in recent years. The 777-300 aircraft manufacturer, Boeing said it “stood ready to support” Singapore Airlines. Although the manufacturer’s planes have suffered a number of recent malfunctions, there is no suggestion of any fault involved in the tragedy caused by turbulence. Boeing added, “We extend our deepest condolences to the family who lost a loved one, and are thoughts are with the passengers and the crew.”
Weather conditions in the region are associated with turbulence in the past. Two crew onboard a British Airways Flight returning from Singapore to London in June 2023 sustained broken legs after being thrown around the cabin during severe turbulence over the Bay of Bengal. “Deaths caused by turbulence are extremely rare of international scheduled flights, but severe injuries have occurred – more often to the crew. There have been deaths on smaller private jets, although usually only when a turbulence has lead to an all out tragedy – crash.
“Singapore offers its deepest condolences to the family of the deceased. We deeply apologize for the traumatic tragedy 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,” divulge Singapore Airlines.
