26-5-2024 (SINGAPORE) The Singapore Airlines (SIA) aircraft that encountered severe turbulence on May 21, resulting in the death of a passenger and injuries to dozens more, has returned to Singapore. The plane, which had made an emergency landing in Bangkok, was cleared for departure and landed back in Singapore on May 26.
An SIA spokesperson confirmed to The Straits Times that the Boeing 777-300ER, registered as 9V-SWM, departed from Bangkok and touched down in Singapore at 1.39 pm on May 26. The spokesperson stated, “SIA obtained the necessary approvals from the relevant authorities in Singapore and Thailand, the investigators, and the aircraft manufacturer. The aircraft was cleared by our engineering and flight operations teams before departure.”
The spokesperson also noted that SIA is fully cooperating with authorities in the ongoing investigation into the incident that occurred on May 21.
The turbulence event took place over the Irrawaddy Basin in Myanmar, approximately 10 hours after flight SQ321 had departed from London en route to Singapore. Following the severe turbulence, the pilot declared a medical emergency and diverted the aircraft, which was carrying 211 passengers and 18 crew members, to Bangkok’s Suvarnabhumi Airport, where it landed at 3.45 pm local time (4.45 pm Singapore time).
Among the passengers on board SQ321 were 41 Singaporeans, with the remaining passengers hailing from Australia, Malaysia, New Zealand, Britain, and other countries. The deceased passenger has been identified as Mr Geoff Kitchen, a 73-year-old British national. Mr Kitchen, a retired insurance professional and musical theatre director, was travelling with his wife, who was also injured and hospitalised. They were on a six-week holiday planning to visit Singapore, Indonesia, Japan, and Australia.
As of May 26, 41 passengers remained hospitalised in Bangkok across three different hospitals, according to an update from Samitivej Srinakarin Hospital.
