One passenger has died and more than 20 were injured when a flight from London to Singapore was hit by turbulence.
Passengers aboard the Singapore Airlines plane told of a “dramatic drop” that launched those not wearing a seatbelt straight into the cabin ceiling.
The airline said the Boeing 777 plane with more than 200 passengers onboard encountered severe turbulence on its way from Heathrow to Singapore. It was diverted to Bangkok, where it landed at 15.45 local time (09.45 GMT) on Tuesday.
Unconfirmed reports from airline tracking websites suggest the flight may have dropped about 1,800 metres (6,000ft) when it flew into the rough air, after traversing the Andaman Sea nearing Thailand.
Images posted on social media showed emergency services at Bangkok’s Suvarnabhumi airport. At least 10 ambulances were deployed, with some of the injured being treated for head wounds and taken to hospital in Bangkok, according to the broadcaster Thai PBS.
In a statement on social media, the airline said: “Singapore Airlines flight SQ321, operating from London (Heathrow) to Singapore on 20 May 2024, encountered severe turbulence en-route.
“We can confirm that there are injuries and one fatality on board the Boeing 777-300ER. There were a total of 211 passengers and 18 crew on board.
“Singapore Airlines offers its deepest condolences to the family of the deceased.
“Our priority is to provide all possible assistance to all passengers and crew on board the aircraft. We are working with the local authorities in Thailand to provide the necessary medical assistance, and sending a team to Bangkok to provide any additional assistance needed.
“We will provide regular updates on our Facebook and X accounts.”
One passenger on board the flight, Dzafran Azmir, a 28-year-old student, told Reuters: “Suddenly the aircraft starts tilting up and there was shaking so I started bracing for what was happening, and very suddenly there was a very dramatic drop so everyone seated and not wearing a seatbelt was launched immediately into the ceiling.
“Some people hit their heads on the baggage cabins overhead and dented it, they hit the places where lights and masks are and broke straight through it.”
Thai immigration police said medical personnel have boarded the plane to assess injuries, but could not confirm the number. It said uninjured passengers had disembarked.
Fatalities caused by turbulence are extremely rare on international scheduled flights, but severe injuries have occurred – more often to crew. There have been fatalities on smaller private jets, although usually only when the turbulence has led to a crash.
