Passenger dies after severe turbulence diverts Singapore Airlines flight from London Heathrow to Bangkok | World News

A tragic incident occurred on a Singapore Airlines flight SQ321 from London to Singapore, as a 73-year-old British man passed away, likely due to a heart attack, after the plane experienced severe turbulence. Dozens of other passengers were injured during the turbulent episode, with reports of people being “launched into the ceiling” of the aircraft.

The Boeing 777-300ER was carrying 211 passengers and 18 crew members when it was forced to make an emergency landing in Bangkok. The flight, which took off from Heathrow, had to divert to the Thai capital after experiencing a sudden drop of 6,000 feet in just three minutes while cruising at 37,000 feet.

According to Thai officials, one male passenger died of cardiac arrest, and around 30 others were injured, including a crew member. Passengers described a harrowing scene inside the plane, with people hitting their heads on overhead compartments and breaking through cabin fixtures.

Singapore Airlines expressed its deepest condolences to the family of the deceased and stated that they are working with Thai authorities to provide medical assistance to those affected. The airline is sending a team to Bangkok to offer additional support to passengers and crew.

Turbulence-related injuries are a common occurrence on flights, with a study by the US National Transportation Safety Board revealing that it accounted for more than a third of accidents between 2009 and 2018. Singapore Airlines, known for its high safety standards, is now focused on assisting those impacted by this tragic event.