Singapore Airlines: British man killed and dozens injured in severe turbulence

A 73-year-old Briton died and more than 30 other people were injured on a Singapore Airlines flight from London that was hit by severe turbulence.

The Singapore-bound Boeing 777-300ER was diverted to Bangkok and had to make an emergency landing at 3:45 p.m. local time (08:45 GMT).

Passengers said the plane suddenly crashed – and people and objects were thrown around the cabin.

The flight was carrying 211 passengers and 18 crew members, Singapore Airlines said. It expressed its deepest condolences to the family of the deceased, whose name has not yet been released.

Authorities in Bangkok believe the man probably died of a heart attack. His wife was taken to hospital but her condition is unknown.

“I was covered in coffee,” Andrew told BBC Radio 5 Live from London. “During the few seconds that the plane went down, there was a terrible screaming noise and what sounded like a thud.”

He said after the turbulence subsided, he was able to help a woman who was “screaming in pain” and had a “bruise on her head.”

The passengers were being held in a special part of the airport in Bangkok, Andrew said. “I will take a different flight, these are very rare occurrences,” he said.

Another passenger told Reuters that the plane suddenly “pitched up and there was shaking.”

“So I started preparing for what was happening and suddenly there was a very dramatic crash, so anyone who was sitting and not wearing a seatbelt was immediately thrown into the ceiling,” said 28-year-old student Dzafran Azmir.

“Some people hit their heads on the luggage cabins above them and dented them. They hit the places where there were lights and masks and broke right through them.”

Allison Barker described receiving a message from her son Josh that read: “I don’t want to scare you, but I’m on a crazy flight. The plane makes an emergency landing… I love you all.”

He was on his way to Bali. After that news, it took a “horrifying” two hours before Allison heard from him again.

“One moment he was sitting with his seatbelt on, the next moment he must have passed out because he was on the floor with other people,” she told the BBC.

She said Josh suffered minor injuries – but she fears the proximity to death could have lasting effects on him.

The airline said 31 people on board the plane were taken to hospital.

“The remaining passengers and crew will be examined and treated if necessary at Suvarnabhumi International Airport in Bangkok.”

The statement added that the airline was working with Thai authorities to provide medical assistance to passengers and was sending a team to Bangkok to provide additional assistance if needed.

Thai authorities have sent ambulances and emergency teams to Suvarnabhumi Airport.

Singapore’s Transport Minister Chee Hong Tat said the government would provide assistance to passengers and their families.

“I am deeply saddened to learn of the incident on board Singapore Airlines flight SQ321 from London Heathrow to Singapore,” he wrote in a statement on Facebook.