Singapore airlines
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Singapore Airlines said on Wednesday it is cooperating fully with relevant authorities in the investigation into the flight from London to Singapore, which encountered severe turbulence, killing one passenger and injuring 30 others. Geoffrey Kitchen, a 73-year-old British passenger, likely died of a heart attack during the flight, said Kittipong Kittikachorn, general manager of Bangkok’s Suvarnabhumi Airport, where the SIA flight was diverted under emergency conditions on Tuesday.
As many as 30 passengers have been treated for their injuries in hospitals in Bangkok after Singapore Airlines Flight SQ321, flying from London (Heathrow) to Singapore on May 20, encountered “sudden extreme turbulence over the Irrawaddy Basin at an altitude of 10,000 metres, about 10 hours later.”
The remaining passengers on board the Boeing 777-300ER aircraft with 229 people on board were examined and treated at the airport, the airline said.
SIA is cooperating fully with the relevant authorities in investigating this incident, SIA chief executive Goh Choon Phong said.
The nationalities of the passengers are as follows: three Indians, two from Canada, one from Germany, two Indonesians, one from Iceland, four from Ireland, one from Israel, 16 from Malaysia, two from Myanmar, 23 from New Zealand, five from the Philippines, 41 Singaporeans, one South Korean, two from Spain, 47 from the United Kingdom, 56 from Australia and four from the US.
The airline confirmed that 131 passengers and 12 crew members, who arrived in Singapore via a relief flight on May 22, were received by Goh at Changi Airport.
For passengers traveling to Singapore, transportation to their homes or hotel accommodation has been arranged.
Another 79 passengers and six crew members, including those receiving medical care, as well as their relatives and loved ones who were on board the flight, remain in Bangkok.
“For passengers with further connections, we have rebooked them on alternative flights. We have also arranged hotel accommodation or lounge access so they can rest until their next flight,” Singapore’s national carrier said.
“A dedicated SIA team from Singapore is in Bangkok to assist our colleagues and local authorities. We are providing all possible support to the passengers and crew of SQ321 who remain in Bangkok,” the airline said.
“On behalf of Singapore Airlines, I would like to express my deepest condolences to the family and loved ones of the deceased passenger. We also deeply apologize for the trauma experienced by all passengers and crew on this flight,” Goh said.
“We offer them, together with their families and loved ones, all possible help and support during this difficult time. The well-being of our passengers and staff is our top priority,” he added.
The American aircraft manufacturer Boeing expressed its condolences to the family of the British citizen who died on board the SQ321, a Boeing 777-300ER.
“We are in contact with Singapore Airlines regarding flight SQ321 and stand ready to support them,” Boeing said on X.
