Airport officials in Bangkok said a 73-year-old British passenger died and at least 30 others were injured Tuesday when a London to Singapore flight experienced severe turbulence and was forced to land in Thailand.
In a statement posted to social media, Singapore Airlines said flight SQ321 departed London’s Heathrow Airport late Monday. The flight encountered severe turbulence from thunderstorms and was diverted to Bangkok.
The flight was carrying 211 passengers and 18 crew members, the airline said.
During a news conference at Bangkok’s Suvarnabhumi Airport, General Manager Kittipong Kittikachorn told reporters 30 people were injured, seven critically, and 23 with what he described as “medium” injuries, including a flight attendant. The injured were taken to a Bangkok hospital.
The official said the deceased man is believed to have died from a heart attack. His name was not immediately released.
Singapore Airlines did not say at what point the injuries and death took place, but a passenger who spoke to Reuters news service said turbulence led to those not wearing seat belts hitting overhead cabins.
Pictures and video taken by passengers on the aircraft shared with media show emergency oxygen masks deployed from the ceiling, and video monitors and parts of the plane's interior appear to be torn off.
Data from the website FlightRadar 24 indicates roughly 11 hours into the flight, as it crossed the Andaman Sea and approached Thailand, the aircraft sharply dropped from an altitude of some 11,300 meters to about 9,400 meters in three to five minutes. The flight landed in Bangkok a short time later.
The incident came as strong thunderstorms hit parts of Thailand as the region’s rainy season gets under way.
The airline said it is working with local authorities in Thailand to provide necessary medical assistance and is sending a team to Bangkok to provide additional help.
In a statement on his Facebook page, Singapore's transport minister, Chee Hong Tat, said the government would provide assistance to passengers and their families.
"I am deeply saddened to learn about the incident onboard Singapore Airlines flight SQ321 from London Heathrow to Singapore," he said.
Some information for this report was provided by The Associated Press, Reuters and Agence France-Presse.
