Details of passenger nationalities released by Singapore Airlines
Singapore airlines has issued another update, in which it confirms there were 211 passengers and 18 crew on board. One person from the flight died, 18 were hospitalised and a further 12 required treatment in hospital. The remaining passengers and crew were treated at Suvarnabhumi International Airport in Bangkok. Singapore Airlines offered its “deepest condolences” to the family of the deceased.
The nationalities of the passengers are as follows: 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, one from Spain, 47 from the United Kingdom, and four from the United States of America.
The statement said the plane 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 15.45hrs local time on 21 May 2024.
Closing summary
We are wrapping up the blog now. Thanks for joining us. Here is a summary of what has happened:
A 73-year-old British man, who had a heart condition, died after severe turbulence on a London to Singapore flight. He was travelling with his wife, who has been taken to hospital.
The Singapore Airlines flight diverted to Bangkok and made an emergency landing at Suvarnabhumi airport just after 15:45 local time (08:45 GMT).
The flight was carrying 211 passengers and 18 crew, Singapore Airlines said.
Passengers onboard the Singapore Airlines plane told of a “dramatic drop” that launched those not wearing a seatbelt into the cabin ceiling.
“During the few seconds of the plane dropping there was an awful screaming and what sounded like a thud,” one passenger told BBC 5 Live.
The airline said 18 people were taken to hospital and a further 12 received treatment. At least 10 ambulances were deployed.
Kittipong Kittikachorn, the general manager of Suvarnabhumi airport, told reporters seven people were in a critical condition at Srinakarin hospital.
A further 23 passengers and one crew member had less severe injuries, he said. Kittikachorn said most injuries were from cuts to the head.
In a few hours, a Singapore Airlines plane travelling from Bangkok will land, carrying some passengers from SQ321 who were not injured and want to continue with their journey to Singapore, BBC News reported.
In a few hours, a Singapore Airlines plane travelling from Bangkok will land, carrying some passengers from SQ321 who were not injured and want to continue with their journey to Singapore, BBC News reports.
Police officer 'saw as many as 70 injured people' from Singapore Airlines flight
A local police officer at Samitivej Srinakarin hospital in Bangkok, where the injured were brought, said he had seen as many as 70 wounded people, including those with very minor conditions. The Guardian has not yet independently verified these figures.
Some patients have requested to be taken to another hospital. One man was recently brought out on a stretcher to be transferred via ambulance. Another was brought out in a wheelchair.
The authorities were focusing on providing emergency care before releasing data on the nationalities of those in critical condition, the officer said. However, it is expected that further information will be given later tonight.
Updated
Boeing – the US-based manufacturer of the plane involved in the incident – has said it is in contact with Singapore Airlines and “stand ready” to offer support.
— The Boeing Company (@Boeing) May 21, 2024
“We extend our deepest condolences to the family who lost a loved one, and our thoughts are with the passengers and crew,” Boeing added in its post on X.
In the UK, Joji Waites, head of flight safety at pilots’ union Balpa, said:
Balpa sends its thoughts to the family and friends of those affected by this event.
Aircraft are designed and certificated to withstand flight in severe turbulence, and pilots are trained in how to anticipate potential turbulence encounters based on weather forecasts and the aircraft’s onboard technology.
Route weather forecasts provide a general prediction of when turbulence is likely to occur, but they often cannot reflect actual conditions in sufficient detail to enable pilots to avoid specific instances of turbulence.
It is important, therefore, for aircraft occupants to have their seatbelts fastened while seated should any unexpected encounters occur and comply promptly with ‘fasten seatbelt’ signs when asked to do so.
Fatalities caused by turbulence are extremely rare on international scheduled flights, but severe injuries have occurred – more often to crew. There have been fatalities on smaller private jets, although usually only when the turbulence has led to a crash.
We mentioned earlier that reports from airline-tracking websites suggested the flight may have dropped about 1,800 metres (5,900ft) when it flew into rough air, after traversing the Andaman Sea nearing Thailand.
A spokesperson for FlightRadar 24 said in regard to the data showing a drop in height: “Our initial thinking is the turbulence event is prior to the standard descent from 37,000 to 31,000 feet. That appears to just be a flight level change in preparation for landing.”
Updated
Here is a picture from inside Singapore Airlines flight SQ321:
'There was an awful screaming' - passenger describes the scene onboard
BBC 5 live has spoken to a passenger onboard the Singapore Airlines flight.
“I was covered in coffee,” Andrew, from London, said. “During the few seconds of the plane dropping there was an awful screaming and what sounded like a thud.”
Andrew, who said passengers were being kept in a special part of the Suvarnabhumi airport in Bangkok, added that once the turbulence had settled he helped a woman “screaming in agony” who had a “gash on her head”.
Updated
What we know so far...
A 73-year-old British man, who had a heart condition, died after severe turbulence on a London to Singapore flight. He was travelling with his wife, who has been taken to hospital.
The Singapore Airlines flight diverted to Bangkok and made an emergency landing at Suvarnabhumi airport just after 15:45 local time (08:45 GMT).
The flight was carrying 211 passengers and 18 crew, Singapore Airlines said.
Passengers onboard the Singapore Airlines plane told of a “dramatic drop” that launched those not wearing a seatbelt into the cabin ceiling.
The airline said 18 people were taken to hospital and a further 12 received treatment. At least 10 ambulances were deployed.
Kittipong Kittikachorn, the general manager of Suvarnabhumi airport, told reporters seven people were in a critical condition at Srinakarin hospital.
A further 23 passengers and one crew member had less severe injuries, he said. Kittikachorn said most injuries were from cuts to the head.
Tracking data captured by FlightRadar24 showed the Singapore Airlines flight cruising at an altitude of 37,000 ft. Just after 8am GMT, the Boeing 777 suddenly pitched down to 31,000 ft over the span of about three minutes.
Updated
Suvarnabhumi airport general manager Kittipong Kittikachorn said:
I confirm the death toll is one person … we learned he had a heart condition. The death is now to be subject to an autopsy but we think it could be caused by a heart attack. The deceased was a British national, 73 years old.
The police has taken over the case and the body will be sent to autopsy department then they will contact the embassy.
“The incident happened during meal service, about two to three hours before the flight was due to land in Singapore,” he added.
“It was probably during breakfast service. Most of the passenger had fastened their seatbelts – I don’t know about the deceased passenger as the wife has been taken to the hospital.”
Updated
Person who died on Singapore Airlines flight was British
The deceased passenger was a 73-year-old British man who had a heart condition, the general manager of Airports of Thailand has confirmed. He was travelling with his wife.
Kittipong Kittikachorn confirmed that one person has died. Seven people are in a critical condition, he says. A further 23 people, including some crew members, have less severe injuries.
He confirmed the cause of the incident was turbulence.
Updated
Kittikachorn said the wife of the deceased passenger is at the hospital.
‘There were lots of passengers who couldn’t walk and we rescued them from the plane,’ Kittikachorn added.
“I’m sorry but we will not be discussing the investigation in this press conference but I can say that the air pockets must be quite severe from looking inside the plane.”
“Investigations are ongoing,” Kittikachorn said. “About 100 out of the roughly 200 passengers will be ready to travel on to Singapore tonight. They are having dinner now and Thai Airways will take them the rest of the way later.”
Updated
No further deaths on Singapore Airlines flight
Kittikachorn has confirmed that there are no further deaths apart from the one person announced earlier.
Updated
The news conference has begun.
Kittipong Kittikachorn, the general manager of management company Airports of Thailand, said: “Most injuries are from cuts to the head”, adding that “30 people on the flight received small injuries”.
Updated
A news conference is due to begin shortly. Stay here for the latest updates.
Cordelia Lynch, Sky New’s Asia correspondent, has shared a video on X that appears to show a large dent inside the plane and the captain announcing the diversion to Bangkok.
This video appears to show damage inside the plane and the Captain announcing a diversion to Bangkok. Flight #SQ321 was travelling from London to Singapore. https://t.co/6ZJmSRGjPK
— Cordelia Lynch (@CordeliaSkyNews) May 21, 2024
Updated
In the US, there has been a recent spate of headlines about turbulent flights. Guardian columnist Emma Brockes wrote this piece on the topic.
In March, a Lufthansa flight en route from Texas to Germany diverted to Dulles airport in Washington DC after turbulence injured seven people. Last December, a Hawaiian Airlines flight from Phoenix to Honolulu encountered turbulence so bad that 20 people required hospitalisation. In July, another Hawaiian Airlines flight, from Honolulu to Sydney, hit turbulence that injured seven people. In August, 11 people were hospitalised when a Delta flight encountered turbulence on its descent into Atlanta. The injuries included lacerations, head trauma, broken bones and loss of consciousness, mainly among passengers not wearing their seatbelts.
Read the full story here:
Singapore Airlines, which is widely recognised as one of world’s leading airlines, has not had any major incidents in recent years.
Its last accident resulting in casualties was a flight from Singapore to Los Angeles via Taipei, where it crashed on 31 October 2000 into construction equipment on the Taiwan Taoyuan International Airport after attempting to take off from the wrong runway. The crash killed 83 of the 179 people on board.
Updated
A passenger onboard the Singapore Airlines flight that had to make an emergency landing in Bangkok has recounted the terrifying descent.
Dzafran Azmir, 28, 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 seatbelt was launched immediately into the ceiling.
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.
Singapore Airlines did not say at what point the injuries and death took place, but a passenger who spoke to Reuters said turbulence led to those not wearing seatbelts hitting overhead cabins.
Updated
What we know so far...
A Singapore Airlines flight from London made an emergency landing in Bangkok at 15.45 local time (0945 GMT) on Tuesday due to severe turbulence, officials said.
At least one person was killed and some media outlets are reporting that more than 20 other people were injured. Singapore Airlines did not specify how many people were injured.
The airline said the Boeing 777 plane with more than 200 passengers about encountered severe turbulence on its way from Heathrow to Singapore.
Some passengers have reportedly received first aid for head wounds. More than 10 ambulances were deployed to Suvarnabhumi Airport, and the injured were taken to Samitivej Srinakarin hospital in Bangkok.
Tracking data captured by FlightRadar24 showed the Singapore Airlines flight cruising at an altitude of 37,000 ft. Just after 8am GMT, the Boeing 777 suddenly pitched down to 31,000 ft over the span of about three minutes, the data indicates.
Updated
Sky’s Asia correspondent, Cordelia Lynch, is at Bangkok airport.
“There’s some suggestion the flight hit an air pocket before it had to make this emergency landing,” she said.
“There are some images circulating on social media that show parts of the plane inside and a lot of scattered debris.”
Singapore’s minister for transport, Chee Hong Tat, has said in a statement:
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.
Updated
More than 20 people injured after Singapore flight hit by turbulence - report
The broadcaster Thai PBS initially reported that 30 people had been injured, but it later said that it’s estimated more than 20 people are injured.
Some passengers have received first aid for head wounds, it reported. More than 10 ambulances were deployed to Suvarnabhumi Airport, and the injured were taken to Samitivej Srinakarin hospital in Bangkok.
Thai media outlet Khaosod has also reported that Keerati Kitmanawat, president and CEO of Airports of Thailand, has confirmed the injured have now been transported to hospital.
The Guardian has not yet independently verified how many people on the flight have been injured.
ระดมเข้าช่วยเหลือ เหตุเครื่องบิน #สิงคโปร์แอร์ไลน์ ลงจอดฉุกเฉิน #สนามบินสุวรรณภูมิ
— Khaosodonline (@KhaosodOnline) May 21, 2024
วันที่ 21 พฤษภาคม 67 รายงานข่าวจาก #สนามบินสุวรรณภูมิ ระบุว่า เที่ยวบิน SQ321 ของ #สิงคโปร์แอร์ไลน์ เส้นทางลอนดอน-สิงคโปร์ ทำการบินด้วยโบอิ้ง 777-300ER… pic.twitter.com/DbndEfEU1j
Here is the full statement from Singapore Airlines issued after it was confirmed that one person had been killed and several others injured on a flight from London that was hit by severe turbulence.
“Singapore Airlines offers its deepest condolences to the family of the deceased,” it said in a post on social media.
The airline said it was working with Thai authorities to provide medical assistance to passengers, and was sending a team to Bangkok, where the plane was diverted, to provide additional support.
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.
— Singapore Airlines (@SingaporeAir) May 21, 2024
We can confirm that there are injuries and one fatality on…
Singapore Airlines plane 'fell 6,000 ft in three minutes' - flight data
The Associated Press has analysed tracking data captured by FlightRadar24 which showed the Singapore Airlines flight cruising at an altitude of 37,000 ft.
Just after 8am GMT, the Boeing 777 suddenly pitched down to 31,000 ft over the span of about three minutes, the data indicates.
The aircraft stayed at 31,000 ft for just under 10 minutes before rapidly descending and landing in Bangkok in just under half an hour.
Updated
One person dies and others injured due to turbulence
One person has died and other passengers have been injured after severe turbulence on a London to Singapore flight.
Singapore Airlines flight SQ321 from London Heathrow diverted to Bangkok and landed at 15:45 local time on Tuesday, the airline said.
“We can confirm that there are injuries and one fatality onboard the Boeing 777-300ER,” Singapore Airlines said in a statement. “There were a total of 211 passengers and 18 crew on board.
Images shared on social media showed emergency services at Bangkok’s Suvarnabhumi airport.
“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 onboard 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.”
