Singapore Airlines: Turbulence Incident Leaves One Passenger Dead, Several Injured

Photo source: Singapore Airlines

Severe turbulence on a Singapore Airlines flight from London to Singapore this week resulted in the death of a 73-year-old British man and injuries to dozens of passengers, including his wife.

Flight SQ321 on a Boeing 777-300ER aircraft was diverted to Bangkok, Thailand, where it made an emergency landing on Tuesday. The turbulence struck approximately 10 hours into the flight over the Irrawaddy Basin in Myanmar, causing the plane to descend abruptly from 37,000 feet to 31,000 feet.

Of the total 229 people on board, 71 – including passengers and crew members – were treated for injuries at Samitivej Srinakarin Hospital in Bangkok. Six were seriously injured, including nationals from the UK, Spain, Malaysia, New Zealand, the US, and Ireland.

Singapore Airlines CEO Goh Choon Phong expressed his condolences and “deepest apologies to everyone affected”, adding that the airline was “deeply saddened by this incident”.

Singapore’s Prime Minister Lawrence Wong ordered a “thorough investigation” into the accident.

Some 143 people who were not injured were flown to Singapore overnight.

Singapore’s Transport Ministry said they are investigating the incident supported by authorities in Thailand and the US.

The cause of the turbulence remains unclear, though satellite data indicated storm activity in the region.

According to reports the man who died is believed to have suffered a heart attack.