28-5-2024 (BANGKOK) Nearly a week after a Singapore Airlines flight encountered severe turbulence, leading to a harrowing emergency landing in Bangkok, the aftermath of the incident continues to unfold. According to the airline’s latest update, 34 passengers remain hospitalized in the Thai capital, underscoring the severity of the traumatic event.
On the evening of May 21, Singapore Airlines flight SQ321, en route from London to Singapore, was forced to make an emergency landing at Suvarnabhumi Airport in Bangkok after encountering extreme turbulence. The jarring incident left one passenger dead and numerous others injured, prompting a comprehensive investigation by Thai authorities.
In a statement released late Monday, Singapore Airlines revealed that 50 passengers from the ill-fated flight remain in Bangkok, with 34 of them receiving ongoing medical treatment for their injuries. The airline has confirmed that all crew members involved in the incident have since returned to Singapore.
Thai authorities have shed light on the extent of the injuries sustained, with most involving the head or spine, and more than a dozen passengers requiring surgical interventions. The severity of the injuries has cast a somber shadow over the incident, prompting the airline to tighten cabin restrictions during turbulence.
While Singapore Airlines has stopped short of compelling passengers to wear seatbelts for the entirety of flights, the carrier has implemented stricter measures to enhance passenger safety during periods of turbulence. This move comes as the airline fully cooperates with the ongoing investigation into the fatal incident.
The tragic event has brought into sharp focus the potential risks associated with severe turbulence, an occurrence that is rare but can have devastating consequences. Just days ago, a Qatar Airways flight over Turkey encountered extreme turbulence before landing as scheduled in Dublin, with 12 people on board sustaining injuries.
