One person has been killed and several others injured after a Singapore Airlines flight from London made an emergency landing after severe turbulence in Bangkok on Tuesday.
The Boeing 777-300ER bound for Singapore was diverted to Bangkok landed at 15:45 local. "Singapore Airlines offers its deepest condolences to the family of the deceased," an airline statement said.
The plane was carrying 211 passengers and 18 crew when it made the emergency landing, the airline said in a statement.
"We can confirm that there are injuries and one fatality on board the Boeing 777-300ER. There were a total of 211 passengers and 18 crew on board," the airline statement said.
It is estimated that more than 20 people have been injured. The Boeing 777-300ER flight experienced severe turbulence while flying near the Myanmar airspace in a region which was under the influence of severe tropical thunderstorms.
According to a report in the Associated Press, the plane plunged down 6,000 feets over a span of about three minutes. As per the data analysed by the news agency, the Singapore Airlines flight was cruising at an altitude of 37,000 feet, but it suddenly pitched down to 31,000 feet over the span of about three minutes.
The aircraft stayed at 31,000 feet for just under 10 minutes before rapidly descending and landing in Bangkok in just under half an hour, the report said.
Minutes after the incident, several videos started surfacing on the internet showing the exact moments of touchdown, throwing people of their seats. However, ABP Live could not verify the authenticity of the video.
Singapore Airlines said its priority is to provide all necessary assistance to the passengers and crew on board the aircraft.
"Our priority is to provide all possible assistance to all passengers and crew on board the aircraft. We are working with the local authorities in Thailand to provide the necessary medical assistance, and sending a team to Bangkok to provide any additional assistance needed," it said.
Singapore's Transport Minister Chee Hong Tat said that the government would provide assistance to the passengers and their families.
"I am deeply saddened to learn about the incident onboard Singapore Airlines flight SQ321 from London Heathrow to Singapore," he said in a statement on Facebook.
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