Passengers and crew from a Singapore Airlines flight that experienced severe turbulence arrived safely in Singapore early Wednesday morning.
The flight had made an emergency landing in Bangkok on Tuesday due to the turbulence.
One passenger died, and 30 others were injured on the flight from London to Singapore, as the turbulence struck about 10 hours after the plane left Heathrow Airport.
A relief flight brought 131 passengers and 12 crew members to Singapore, landing at 5:05 a.m. local time, according to a statement from Singapore Airlines on Facebook.
The Boeing 777-300ER, carrying 211 passengers and 18 crew, hit turbulence over the Irrawaddy Basin at 37,000 feet.
During the incident, a 73-year-old British passenger died of a suspected heart attack. Eighteen people were hospitalized due to injuries, while 12 others received treatment in hospitals.
Singapore Airlines’ CEO, Goh Choon Phong, expressed his condolences to the deceased passenger’s family and apologized for the distress caused to all on board.
“I would like to express my deepest condolences to the family and loved ones of the deceased passenger. We also deeply apologise for the trauma experienced by all passengers and crew members on this flight,” he said.
The pilot declared a medical emergency and diverted the plane to Bangkok, where it landed at 3:45 p.m. local time.
As of early Wednesday, 79 passengers and six crew members remained in Bangkok. They included those receiving medical care and their family members.
More than a quarter of the passengers on the flight were from Australia, with others from the UK, Singapore, New Zealand, Malaysia, and other countries.
Singapore Airlines is working with authorities to investigate the incident, while Boeing is in contact with the airline and offering support. The aircraft involved has been in service since 2008.
The Singapore stock market was closed on Wednesday for the Vesak Day holiday.
