Severe Turbulence on Singapore Airlines Flight: 22 with Spinal Injuries, 6 Suffer Head Trauma.

Published on 24 May 2024, by Alankrita Mukherjee | Delhi, India

An incident involving a Singapore Airlines flight on May 21 resulted in twenty-two passengers sustaining spinal injuries and six others suffering brain and skull injuries. The most senior patient is 83 years old, and the youngest is a two-year-old who incurred a concussion, as reported by media sources. According to The Straits Times, Adinun Kittiratanapaibool, the director of Samitivej Srinakarin Hospital, mentioned that twenty patients are in intensive care, but none are in life-threatening condition. There are 40 patients from Flight SQ321 being treated at the hospital. The flight from London to Singapore made an emergency landing in Bangkok.

Almost 60 passengers were injured when the flight encountered "sudden extreme turbulence over the Irrawaddy Basin at 37,000 feet, approximately 10 hours after departure." Forty-six passengers and two crew members are still receiving medical treatment in Bangkok, with Singapore Airlines confirming in a Facebook post on May 23 at 9:31 PM that 65 passengers and two crew members remain in the Thai capital.

The pilot redirected the Boeing 777-300ER, which had 211 passengers and 18 crew members on board, to Bangkok’s Suvarnabhumi Airport, where it made an emergency landing at 3:45 PM (4:45 PM Singapore time).

During the turbulence on May 21, Briton Geoffrey Kitchen, aged 73, reportedly suffered a heart attack and passed away. Singapore Airlines CEO Goh Choon Phong has been in Bangkok, meeting with the affected passengers, crew, and their families to offer support and address their concerns personally.

Additionally, trained customer care representatives, who are staff volunteers, have been deployed to provide updates and assistance to passengers as needed.

Goh expressed gratitude towards the staff at Bangkok Hospital, Samitivej Srinakarin Hospital, and Samitivej Sukhumvit Hospital, where the injured are being treated. He also mentioned that arrangements have been made for the family members of the affected passengers to travel to Bangkok and receive the necessary support.

Singapore Airlines maintains communication with all passengers and crew members still in Bangkok, ensuring they receive continuous updates and assistance during this challenging period.