Pictures from the plane hit by turbulence so severe a man was killed show debris strewn across the cabin, collapsed panels, and blood smeared on the ceiling

Pete SymeMay 29, 2024, 05:28 IST

Medical teams at Suvarnabhumi Airport attended to the Singapore Airlines passengers.Courtesy of Suvarnabhumi Airport

A man died and dozens of others were injured due to turbulence on a Singapore Airlines flight.
Pictures released by the airport in Bangkok show the emergency medical response.

A 73-year-old British man died, and 71 others were injured when a Singapore Airlines flight was hit by severe turbulence on Tuesday.

Flight SQ321 from London Heathrow to Singapore Changi had to divert to Bangkok. The airline said the Boeing 777 "encountered sudden extreme turbulence" in Myanmar airspace, 10 hours into the flight.

It added that 18 people were hospitalized, and a further 12 were being treated in hospitals. 80 people are still in Bangkok, including those receiving medical care and their families or loved ones, according to the airline.

Images shared by passengers and news agencies show the terrifying aftermath of the incident, with damage to the cabin ceiling, items strewn about the galley, and blood smeared across various parts of the plane, including on the ceiling.

Flight SQ321 from London to Singapore was diverted to Bangkok after encountering severe turbulence.

Geoff Kitchen, a 73-year-old British man who helped run a musical theater group, died in the incident.

The plane was met by airport officials and medical teams at Bangkok’s Suvarnabhumi Airport.

REUTERS/Athit Perawongmetha

The airport said medical teams, and fire and rescue teams, were immediately sent to the plane, "in accordance with the emergency plan."

Medical teams at Suvarnabhumi Airport attended to the Singapore Airlines passengers.Courtesy of Suvarnabhumi Airport

One person was pictured being carried off the plane on a stretcher.

Courtesy of Suvarnabhumi Airport

Several ambulances attended to the Boeing 777 at the airport. 18 people were hospitalized, and another 12 were treated at hospitals.

Sakchai Lalit/AP

"Very suddenly there was a very dramatic drop so everyone seated and not wearing a seatbelt was launched immediately into the ceiling," Dzafran Azmir, a 28-year-old student on board the flight told Reuters.

Severe turbulence dislodged oxygen masks and caused injuries to dozens of passengers on Singapore Airlines flight SQ321.Reuters/Stringer

"Very suddenly there was a very dramatic drop so everyone seated and not wearing a seatbelt was launched immediately into the ceiling," Dzafran Azmir, a 28-year-old student on board the flight told Reuters.

The damage saw panels and oxygen masks hanging from the ceiling.

Obtained by Reuters/Handout

There also appeared to be blood on the cabin floor and ceiling due to passengers' injuries.

More damage was apparent in the galley, with tubes coming out of the ceiling.

REUTERS/Stringer

Meals, bottles, and serving jugs were strewn across the galley floor.

REUTERS/Stringer

131 passengers and 12 crew members have since arrived in Singapore after the diversion. They were met by Singapore Airlines' CEO and onward transport to homes or hotels was arranged by the carrier.

ROSLAN RAHMAN/AFP via Getty Images

131 passengers and 12 crew members have since arrived in Singapore after the diversion. They were met by Singapore Airlines' CEO and onward transport to homes or hotels was arranged by the carrier.

In a statement, the Bangkok airport said: "Suvarnabhumi Airport would like to extend our sincere condolences to the family of the deceased from the severe turbulence incident on Singapore Airlines flight."

LILLIAN SUWANRUMPHA/AFP via Getty Images

In a statement, the Bangkok airport said: "Suvarnabhumi Airport would like to extend our sincere condolences to the family of the deceased from the severe turbulence incident on Singapore Airlines flight."

“On behalf of the Singapore Airlines Board, I extend my deepest condolences to the family and loved ones of our passenger who passed away," said the airline's chairman, Peter Seah.

Anadolu/Getty Images

“On behalf of the Singapore Airlines Board, I extend my deepest condolences to the family and loved ones of our passenger who passed away," said the airline's chairman, Peter Seah.

As the manufacturer of the plane, Boeing also released a statement.

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Pictures from the plane hit by turbulence so severe a man was killed show debris strewn across the cabin, collapsed panels, and blood smeared on the ceiling

Flight SQ321 from London to Singapore was diverted to Bangkok after encountering severe turbulence.

Geoff Kitchen, a 73-year-old British man who helped run a musical theater group, died in the incident.

The plane was met by airport officials and medical teams at Bangkok’s Suvarnabhumi Airport.

The airport said medical teams, and fire and rescue teams, were immediately sent to the plane, "in accordance with the emergency plan."

One person was pictured being carried off the plane on a stretcher.

Several ambulances attended to the Boeing 777 at the airport. 18 people were hospitalized, and another 12 were treated at hospitals.

"Very suddenly there was a very dramatic drop so everyone seated and not wearing a seatbelt was launched immediately into the ceiling," Dzafran Azmir, a 28-year-old student on board the flight told Reuters.

The damage saw panels and oxygen masks hanging from the ceiling.

There also appeared to be blood on the cabin floor and ceiling due to passengers' injuries.

More damage was apparent in the galley, with tubes coming out of the ceiling.

Meals, bottles, and serving jugs were strewn across the galley floor.

131 passengers and 12 crew members have since arrived in Singapore after the diversion. They were met by Singapore Airlines' CEO and onward transport to homes or hotels was arranged by the carrier.

In a statement, the Bangkok airport said: "Suvarnabhumi Airport would like to extend our sincere condolences to the family of the deceased from the severe turbulence incident on Singapore Airlines flight."

“On behalf of the Singapore Airlines Board, I extend my deepest condolences to the family and loved ones of our passenger who passed away," said the airline's chairman, Peter Seah.

As the manufacturer of the plane, Boeing also released a statement.