One person died and several others were injured when a Singapore Airlines flight from London to Singapore encountered severe turbulence. The flight, SQ321, was traveling from Heathrow Airport to Singapore when it faced rough weather, leading to an emergency landing at Bangkok’s Suvarnabhumi Airport at 3:45 pm local time.
Singapore Airlines confirmed on Facebook that there was one fatality and multiple injuries among the 211 passengers and 18 crew members on board the Boeing 777-300ER. Thai immigration police reported that medical personnel boarded the plane to assess the injuries, but did not specify the exact number of injured passengers. Some uninjured passengers were allowed to disembark.
The identity of the deceased passenger has not been released.
Singapore Airlines emphasized their commitment to supporting all passengers and crew, stating, “Our priority is to provide all possible assistance to everyone on board. We are coordinating with local authorities in Thailand to offer the necessary medical help, and we are sending a team to Bangkok for additional support.”
The airline later reported that 18 people were hospitalized, with another 12 receiving treatment at local hospitals.
“Other passengers and crew are being evaluated and treated at Suvarnabhumi International Airport in Bangkok,” the airline added.
Upon landing, emergency teams from Samitivej Srinakarin Hospital were present to help and transport the injured. Videos posted by Suvarnabhumi Airport showed a line of ambulances arriving at the scene, according to The Associated Press.
Flight data from FlightRadar24, analyzed by AP, showed the flight cruising at 37,000 feet before sharply descending to 31,000 feet over about three minutes. The plane remained at this altitude for nearly 10 minutes before a rapid descent to Bangkok, landing in under half an hour.
This incident is Singapore Airlines’ first fatality since October 2000, when a plane crashed during takeoff in Taiwan, killing 83 people. According to the Aviation Safety Network, Singapore Airlines has had a total of seven accidents to date.
