By Jessica McSweeney and Alex Crowe
Eight Australians are in a Bangkok hospital after severe turbulence on a Singapore Airlines flight left one person dead and more than 70 injured.
The plane, carrying 56 Australians, was about 10 hours into the London to Singapore flight when it suddenly fell into an air pocket over the Irrawaddy Basin in Myanmar, flinging passengers and crew around the cabin. The pilot requested an emergency landing and the plane was diverted to Bangkok.
British man Geoffrey Kitchen was identified as the passenger who died. The 73-year-old grandfather had been en route to Australia with his wife Linda when flight SQ321 hit severe turbulence.
The Singapore Airlines route is popular with Australians travelling to Europe, and Australians made up the largest nationality group on board. The plane was also carrying 47 people from the UK, 41 from Singapore, 23 from New Zealand and 16 Malaysians.
Home Affairs Minister Clare O’Neil said eight Australian were being treated for injuries in a Bangkok hospital. She did not comment on the severity of the injuries.
“This is a terrible experience that these people have gone through. As usual, the Australian government will provide consular assistance wherever we can, wherever it’s needed to those people,” O’Neil told Sunrise.
More than 130 passengers and 12 crew members from SQ321 had touched down in Singapore early on Wednesday morning, on a relief flight transporting them from Bangkok. Connecting flights had been arranged for people travelling beyond Singapore.
As of 5am (Thailand time), 79 passengers and six crew members from the Singapore Airlines remained in Bangkok. Those still in the Thai capital included passengers receiving medical care and their family members.
Singapore Airlines said a team of its staff in Bangkok was assisting crew members and passengers of the flight. In a statement, the airline said it was cooperating with authorities in an investigation into the incident.
Singapore Airlines chief executive officer Goh Choon Phong expressed his condolences to the loved ones of the passenger who died.
“We also deeply apologise for the trauma experienced by all passengers and crew members on this flight,” he said.
“We are providing all possible assistance and support to them, along with their families and loved ones, during this difficult time. The well-being of our passengers and staff is our utmost priority.”
Australians affected should contact the Australian government’s 24-hour Consular Emergency Centre on +61 2 6261 3305 from overseas or 1300 555 135 from within Australia.
In March this year, about 50 people suffered injuries when a LATAM Airlines flight from Sydney to Auckland experienced severe turbulence after a technical issue while in the air.
Passengers on board described a sudden drop in the air, sending crew and passengers who weren’t wearing seatbelts crashing into the ceiling.
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