A 73-year-old British man who died of a suspected heart attack after experiencing “sudden and extreme turbulence” on a flight from London to Singapore has been named Geoff Kitchen.
Dozens more were injured in the accident, with passengers saying people were “thrown into the ceiling and overhead lockers.”
Singapore Airline flight SQ321 from Heathrow Airport was forced to make an emergency landing at Bangkok Airport in Thailand.
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British passenger Geoff Kitchen died after being caught in severe turbulence on a flight to Singapore.
Singapore Airlines apologized and said it was “cooperating fully with the relevant authorities regarding the investigation.”
Mr Kitchen, from Thornbury, near Bristol, was on a six-week holiday with his wife to Singapore, Indonesia and Australia.
His wife is believed to have been hospitalized after the incident.
Thornbury Musical Theater Group paid tribute to Mr Kitchen in a Facebook post, saying: “We are saddened to announce the loss of our esteemed colleague and friend, Jeff Kitchen, in the recent Singapore Airlines accident. My heart aches when I hear this shocking news.
“Jeff has always been a gentleman with the utmost honesty and integrity and always did what was right for the group.
“His dedication to TMTG is unquestionable, having served the group and the local community of Thornbury for over 35 years, holding a variety of roles within the group including chairman, treasurer and most recently secretary.
“Our thoughts and prayers are with his wife and family during this difficult time. We ask that you respect their privacy.”
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Extreme turbulence occurs “suddenly”
“Seat belts saved some people from injury.''
Kittipong Kittikachorn of Bangkok Airport said earlier that a 73-year-old man died of possible cardiac arrest.
The Boeing 777-300ER was carrying 211 passengers and 18 crew members, including 47 British nationals.
“71 people required treatment, six of them seriously injured,” a spokesman for Samitivej Srinakarin Hospital said.
However, Singapore Airlines appears to contradict these numbers, saying only 30 people were taken to hospital.
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Airplane passengers speak from hospital
Speaking to Sky News, Passengers said some escaped injury thanks to their seatbelts.some said the flight attendant suffered a cut to the head.
Australian Teandra Thukunen, whose left arm was tied in a sling at Bangkok's Samitivej Srinakarin Hospital, said she was asleep but “woke up when I was thrown onto the roof and then onto the floor.'' Ta.
Tukunen, 30, said when the seatbelt sign came on, “unfortunately I didn't have time to put on my seatbelt and I was thrown onto the roof right after that.”
“I was shocked that it happened so quickly, in just a few seconds. Everyone was pretty surprised.”
Passenger Zahran Azmir said: “Some people hit their heads on the overhead luggage compartment and got dented, and some people hit the lights and masks and went straight through.''
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Singapore Airlines also said the pilot declared a medical emergency and landed in Bangkok after experiencing “sudden extreme turbulence over the Irrawaddy Basin at 37,000 feet approximately 10 hours after departure.”
In a statement Tuesday morning, the company's CEO said it “deeply regrets the traumatic experience experienced by all passengers on Flight SQ321” and offered “all possible support” to passengers and crew. He said his priority is to provide.
Mr Goh Choon Fong said a team was “quickly” dispatched to Bangkok to assist with ground operations, and a rescue flight carrying 143 passengers and crew landed in Singapore at 5:05 a.m. local time on Tuesday. added.
A total of 79 passengers and crew remain in Bangkok, he added.
The UK Foreign Office said in a statement: “We are supporting the family of a British man who died in Bangkok and are liaising with local authorities.”
