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.
