One Briton died during extreme turbulence on board a Singapore Airlines that left several others injured, ITV News Reporter Olivia Guthrie has the latest
Six British people are in intensive care after a Singapore Airlines aircraft experienced severe turbulence on a flight from London.
A total of 104 patients were taken to hospital and medical clinics in Bangkok, where the plane was diverted about 10 hours into the flight.
Fifty-eight patients were being treated in three hospitals across the city, Samitvej Srinakarin Hospital said in a statement.
The hospital confirmed 20 patients, including six Britons, remain in Intensive Care Unit’s (ICU), while a further 38, among them nine British nationals, remain in inpatient care.
A 73-year-old British man Geoff Kitchen died during the flight after suffering a suspected heart attack, according to a spokesman for Bangkok’s Suvarnabhumi Airport.
Briton Josh Silverstone, who was on-board the aircraft, spoke from outside a hospital in Thailand
Fearing the worst, the 24-year-old said at the moment of impact he bought plane WIFI to text his mum to tell her he loves her.
“I woke up on the floor, I don’t know what happened. I must have hit my head somewhere,” Mr Silverstone said.
“I had a cut on my eye, a chipped tooth and pain in my shoulders but everything was fine until I got back to the airport.”
When the plane landed Mr Silverstone began violently vomiting but said he is grateful and lucky the situation wasn’t worse.
He added: “The cabin crew were amazing, they were really helpful. If the pilots felt the force we felt and they managed to continue and get us to safety then they did amazing.”
Mr Silverstone – who was travelling to Bali to meet friends – said he was “happy to be here” and that a lot of people are in a more critical condition.
“A lot of people have got spinal issues from hitting their head, a lot of people can barely move their back and I’m fortunate, I’m out of here in 24 hours.”
“We are very sorry for the traumatic experience that everyone on board SQ321 went through,” the airline’s CEO, Goh Choon Phong said in a video on social media.
He said the airline was providing all necessary support and pledged it would fully cooperate with the investigations.
A relief plane flew into Singapore on Wednesday morning with most of the passengers who were on a flight, the airline said.
The airline’s Flight SQ321 encountered “sudden extreme turbulence” over Myanmar’s Irrawaddy Basin at 37,000ft about 10 hours after departure, with the pilot declaring a medical emergency and diverting the plane to Bangkok.
Tributes were paid to Mr Kitchen, a grandfather from south Gloucestershire.
In a Facebook post shared on Tuesday evening, Thornbury Musical Theatre Group in Bristol said: “It is with a heavy heart that we learn of the devastating news of the passing of our esteemed colleague and friend Geoff Kitchen in the recent Singapore Air Incident.
Footage filmed after the plane landed shows the aftermath of the turbulence (Credit: X / @gotravelyourway)
“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 unquestionable and he has served the group and the local community of Thornbury for over 35 years, holding various offices within the group, including Chairman, Treasurer and most recently Secretary.
“Our thoughts and prayers go out to his wife and the family at this difficult time, and we ask that you respect their privacy.”
A Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO) spokesperson said it was supporting the family of the passenger and was in contact with local authorities.
One passenger on board Flight SQ321 to Singapore said the plane suffered a “dramatic drop”, meaning people not wearing a seatbelt were “launched immediately into the ceiling”.
Images posted on social media showed damage to the ceiling of the cabin, and food, cutlery and other debris strewn on the floor after the incident.
The 16-year-old Boeing 777 left Heathrow at 10.17pm on Monday and was diverted to Bangkok, landing at 3.45pm local time (9.45am BST) on Tuesday.
There were 211 passengers and 18 crew on board – including 47 passengers from the UK and four Irish nationals.
Singapore Airlines said: “Singapore Airlines flight SQ321, operating from London Heathrow to Singapore on May 20, encountered severe turbulence en route.
“We can confirm that there are injuries and one fatality on board.
“Singapore Airlines offers its deepest condolences to the family of the deceased.”
A spokesperson for the UK Civil Aviation Authority said: “Our deepest condolences go out to all those who have been affected.
“Accidents of this nature are extremely rare and aviation remains one of the safest forms of travel.”
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