1 dead and 6 seriously injured in “severe” turbulence on Singapore Airlines flight, airline says

LONDON and HONG KONG – One person died and dozens more were injured after a Singapore Airlines flight hit “severe” turbulence, the airline said in a social media post.

According to the airline, the Boeing 777-300ER departed London’s Heathrow Airport on Monday with 221 passengers and 18 crew members on board.

Flight SQ 321 encountered turbulence about 90 minutes before its destination Singapore and was diverted to Bangkok, the airline said.

Six people were critically injured, said Kittipong Kittikachorn, general manager of Bangkok’s Suvarnabhumi Airport. Dozens of other passengers suffered minor or moderate injuries, he said.

Geoff Kitchen, a 73-year-old man from Britain, died, according to authorities and a musical theater company he worked for.

The UK-based Thornbury Musical Theater Group said in a Facebook post: “Geoff was always a gentleman with the utmost honesty and integrity and always did what was right for the group. His commitment to TMTG was undeniable and he served the group and the group.” He has been involved in the local Thornbury community for over 35 years and has held various positions within the group including Chairman, Treasurer and most recently Secretary. Our thoughts and prayers are with his wife and family during this difficult time and we ask that you respect their privacy.”

Singapore Airlines expressed its condolences to Kitchen’s family.

“Singapore Airlines extends its deepest condolences to the family of the deceased,” the airline said in a statement on Tuesday. “Our priority is to provide all possible assistance to all passengers and crew on board the aircraft.”

The National Transportation Safety Board said it would send a team to assist in the investigation.

“All of a sudden the plane started pitching up and there was a shaking so I started to brace myself for what was going to happen and all of a sudden there was a very dramatic crash so everyone who was sitting and not wearing a seatbelt went straight into the Ceiling was thrown,” Dzafran Azmir, a 28-year-old student on the flight, told ABC News. “Some people hit their heads on the baggage cabins above them, denting them; they hit the places where there were lights and masks and broke right through them.”

Singapore Airlines CEO Goh Choon Phong addressed the SQ321 incident in a video.

“We are deeply saddened by this incident and will provide all necessary support and assistance to the passengers and crew on board SQ321, as well as their families and loved ones. Our deepest condolences go out to the family and loved ones of the deceased passenger,” Phong said.

Four of the passengers were Americans, the airline said late Tuesday evening. Two of them were injured.

The plane appeared to have hit turbulence in Thai airspace somewhere over the Andaman Sea.

The flight, which was originally scheduled to arrive at Singapore Changi Airport, instead landed in Thailand at around 3:45 p.m. local time, the airline said.

“We are in contact with Singapore Airlines regarding flight SQ321 and stand ready to assist them,” Boeing said in a statement. “We extend our deepest condolences to the family who lost a loved one and our thoughts are with the passengers and crew.”

ABC News’ Joe Simonetti, Will Gretsky and Helena Skinner contributed to this report.