28-5-2024 (SINGAPORE) Singapore’s Prime Minister Lawrence Wong has expressed his appreciation to the Thai government for the swift and comprehensive assistance provided to those on board Singapore Airlines Flight SQ321, which encountered severe turbulence en route to Singapore from London. In a phone call to his Thai counterpart, Prime Minister Srettha Thavisin, on May 28, PM Wong conveyed his gratitude for the kingdom’s support during the challenging situation.
In a Facebook post later that day, PM Wong stated, “I wanted to thank the Thai government for the assistance provided to the flight when it was diverted to Bangkok.” He acknowledged the crucial role played by Thai authorities and agencies in evacuating passengers and crew members, as well as providing medical care for those injured during the turbulence incident.
“We are very grateful for the support,” PM Wong added, underscoring the significance of the assistance rendered by Thailand in the aftermath of the harrowing experience.
Earlier, PM Srettha had taken to social media to share details of the phone conversation, noting that he reiterated Thailand’s readiness to support those still recovering in the country. According to the latest reports, 28 passengers remain hospitalized in Bangkok following the turbulence incident.
All injured crew members on board the Boeing 777-300ER had returned to Singapore by May 27.
The Singapore Airlines flight, SQ321, was en route from London to Singapore when it encountered sudden extreme turbulence over the Irrawaddy Basin in Myanmar on May 21. Tragically, a 73-year-old British passenger, Geoffrey Kitchen, died of a suspected heart attack, while dozens of others were injured.
In response to the emergency situation, the pilot diverted the plane, 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). After being cleared for departure from Bangkok, the aircraft returned to Singapore on May 26.
Those on board were initially transferred to three hospitals in Bangkok – Samitivej Srinakarin Hospital, Samitivej Sukhumvit Hospital, and Bangkok Hospital – for medical treatment following the harrowing incident.
During the call, PM Wong also expressed his appreciation to PM Srettha for congratulating him on his recent appointment as Singapore’s fourth prime minister on May 15. In response, PM Srettha extended an invitation to PM Wong to officially visit Thailand, stating that such a visit would “further strengthen our relations and cooperation.”
PM Wong acknowledged the warm and friendly relations between Singapore and Thailand, which are underpinned by regular high-level visits, extensive economic links, and frequent people-to-people interactions. He expressed his eagerness to work with his Thai counterpart to boost bilateral and regional cooperation, especially as the 60th anniversary of diplomatic ties between the two countries approaches in 2025.
