Singapore Airlines flight – latest: British man dies as 30 injured after severe turbulence
Wife of 73-year-old killed is among 18 rushed to hospital as seven fight for life, airport manager says
Tekef
Wife of 73-year-old killed is among 18 rushed to hospital as seven fight for life, airport manager says
Sign up to Simon Calder’s free travel email for expert advice and money-saving discounts
Get Simon Calder’s Travel email
A 73-year-old British man with a suspected heart condition has died and 30 were injured as a Singapore Airlines flight from London was forced to make an emergency landing in Bangkok due to severe turbulence, airport officials have said.
The Boeing 777-300ER plane was en route to Singapore carrying 211 passengers and 18 crew when it made the emergency landing, the airline said in a statement.
Thai airport officials said a 73-year-old British man had died and there were 30 injuries, as flight tracking data showed the flight had plummeted 6,000 feet in a matter of minutes.
“We are working with the local authorities in Thailand to provide the necessary medical assistance,” the airline said.
Video clips shared on social media by reporters at the scene showed emergency vehicles lined up at the airport.
Singapore Airlines has not suffered a fatality since October 2000, when a plane crashed on a closed runway during takeoff at Taiwan and 83 people died.
Were you on the flight? Email holly.evans@independent.co.uk
Some 47 passengers on Singapore Airlines flight from UK
Some 47 passengers who were on board the terrifying Singapore Airlines flight are from the UK, the airline has said.
There were a total of 211 passengers and 18 crew on board.
In an update issued on Tuesday afternoon, the airline said the nationalities of the passengers are as follows: 47 from the UK, 56 from Australia, 2 from Canada, 1 from Germany, 3 from India, 2 from Indonesia, 1 from Iceland, 4 from Ireland, 1 from Israel, 16 from Malaysia, 2 from Myanmar, 23 from New Zealand, 5 from the Philippines, 41 from Singapore, 1 from South Korea, 2 from Spain, and 4 from the US.
Tara Cobham21 May 2024 15:59
Flight hit ‘sudden extreme turbulence’ then medical emergency declared, says airline
The diverted Singapore Airlines flight hit “sudden extreme turbulence” over the Irrawaddy Basin at 37,000 feet about 10 hours after departure, the airline has said.
The pilot subsequently declared a medical emergency and diverted the aircraft to Bangkok, landing at 3.45pm local time, it added in an update issued on Tuesday afternoon.
Tara Cobham21 May 2024 15:53
Photo shows passenger being carried on stretcher at Bangkok airport
A dramatic photo from the scene shows a passenger being carried on a stretcher at Bangkok’s Suvarnabhumi International Airport on Tuesday.
A Singapore Airlines plane was forced to make an emergency landing there due to severe turbulence.
Tara Cobham21 May 2024 15:46
‘The plane suddenly dropped’: Passenger tells of terrifying Singapore Airlines flight
A passenger from London said the seat belt sign came on, he followed the instruction, and “at that very moment, the plane suddenly dropped”.
The passenger, who gave his name as Andrew, told BBC Radio 5 Live: “The thing I remember the most is seeing objects and things flying through the air.
“I was covered in coffee. It was incredibly severe turbulence.”
He heard “awful screaming” as the plane was dropping, and what “sounded like a thud”.
Tara Cobham21 May 2024 15:31
Dramatic pictures reveal chaos on Singapore Airlines plane
Images show damage to the ceiling of the cabin, with oxygen masks and debris strewn across the seats while food and cutlery can be seen on the floor. In one image, a female air stewardess can be seen with blood on her face, while her male colleague appears dishevelled and shocked after they were forced to drop 6,000ft within minutes.
Holly Evans reports:
Tara Cobham21 May 2024 15:21
Briton describes screams and lacerations on chaotic flight
A British passenger has described the carnage onboard the Singapore flight that dropped rapidly in turbulence killing one person and injuring dozens more.
The Boeing 777-300ER plane was en route from Heathrow to Singapore carrying 211 passengers and 18 crew when it made the emergency landing in Bangkok, the airline said in a statement. Seven of the 30 people wounded during the flight are seriously injured, Bangkok airport’s general manager told a news conference on Wednesday.
Passenger Andrew Davies, from Lewisham, south London, has described passengers performing CPR on a “poor gentleman” and calling for a defibrillator.
Barney Davis reports:
Tara Cobham21 May 2024 15:09
Boeing in touch with Singapore Airlines
Boeing said it was in touch with Singapore Airlines and was ready to provide support. It referred further questions to the airline and local authorities.
"We extend our deepest condolences to the family who lost a loved one, and our thoughts are with the passengers and crew," it said.
Tara Cobham21 May 2024 15:04
Stay up to date with The Independent's web notifications
Want the latest updates on breaking news straight to your phone or laptop?
Stay on top of the latest big breaking news with The Independent's web notifications.
We'll also share our must-read articles, agenda-setting exclusives and Premium features to keep you expertly informed.
Tara Cobham21 May 2024 15:01
Ambulances race to Singapore Airlines plane after emergency landing
Ambulances were filmed rushing to the Singapore Airlines plane after it diverted to make an emergency landing in Bangkok due to severe turbulence.
Andy Gregory21 May 2024 14:48
Wife of man who died aboard flight is at hospital, official says
The wife of the British man who died during the flight is at the hospital in Bangkok and was being assessed by medics, Airports of Thailand general manager Kittipong Kittikachorn said.
Andy Gregory21 May 2024 14:38
/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_asset/file/23630242/acastro_STK052_02.jpg)
/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_asset/file/25301215/STK463_SCOTUS_B.jpg)
