Passengers on flight hit by extreme turbulence arrive in Singapore

Source: CNBC
Author: Joanna Tan

SINGAPORE -- More than 140 passengers and crew that were on the Singapore Airlines flight that made an emergency landing in Bangkok Thursday after encountering severe turbulence arrived safely in Singapore early on Wednesday.

One passenger died and 30 others were injured onboard the London to Singapore flight on Tuesday, which encountered "sudden extreme turbulence" about 10 hours after departing from Heathrow Airport.

A relief flight carrying "131 passengers and 12 crew members who were on board SQ321 arrived in Singapore" at 5:05 a.m. local time on Wednesday, the airline said in a Facebook update.

The Boeing 777-300ER, which was carrying carrying 211 passengers and 18 crew, was flying over the Irrawaddy Basin at an altitude of 37,000 feet when it experienced sudden turbulence.

A 73-year-old British national died of a suspected heart attack during the incident. At least 30 people were injured, with 18 of them hospitalized and 12 being treated in hospitals, the airline said.

"I would like to express my deepest condolences to the family and loved ones of the deceased passenger. We also deeply apologise for the trauma experienced by all passengers and crew members on this flight," Singapore Airlines' CEO Goh Choon Phong, said in a video message posted on Facebook.

The pilot declared a medical emergency and diverted the plane to Bangkok, and the plane arrived at the Thai capital at 3:45 p.m. Bangkok time.