The CEO of Singapore Airlines, Goh Choon Phong, has offered his “deepest apologies” to everyone affected on flight SQ321 between London and Singapore after a man died following severe turbulence.
In a video statement posted on Singapore Airlines’ Facebook page, the airline chief explained the incident, which took place on May 21, 2024, and confirmed the death of one passenger and injuries to multiple others.
Speaking on camera, Goh said SQ321, which was operating from London-Heathrow Airport (LHR) to Singapore Changi AIrport (SIN), was 10 hours into the 13-hour flight when it encountered “sudden extreme turbulence” over the Irrawaddy Basin at an altitude of 37,000 feet.
The Irrawaddy Basin is located in Myanmar, approximately 2,329 kilometers from Singapore.
The pilot then declared an emergency and diverted the 16-year old B777-300ER aircraft to Bangkok’s Suvarnabhumi International Airport (BKK).
The man who tragically lost his life has been identified as 73-year-old Geoffrey Kitchen, a British national who suffered a suspected heart attack during the flight.
In the statement, Goh expressed his condolences to Kitchen’s family, adding that the airline is “very sorry” for the traumatic experience of everyone on board flight SQ321.
Goh added that Singapore Airlines immediately dispatched a team to Bangkok on the evening of May 21, 2024 to assist colleagues and passengers.
143 passengers and crew members who were able to fly boarded a relief flight arranged by the airline and arrived in Singapore at 05:05 local time on May 22, 2024.
Meanwhile, 79 passengers and six crew members, including those injured and receiving medical treatment, as well as their families, currently remain in Bangkok.
Goh said the airline will continue to extend all possible support to passengers and that it is fully cooperating with relevant authorities in carrying out investigations.
The flight carried 211 passengers and 18 crew members.
The nationalities of the passengers are as follows:
- 56 from Australia
- 47 from the United Kingdom
- 41 from Singapore
- 23 from New Zealand
- 16 from Malaysia
- Five from the Philippines
- Four from Ireland
- Four from the US
- Three from India
- Two from Indonesia
- Two from Myanmar
- Two from Spain
- Two from Canada
- One from Germany
- One from Israel
- One from Iceland
- One from South Korea
2 comments
Stupid SIA. pilots flew into thunderstorms Tops 55000 feet tall which were easily avoidable in daylight easily seen 30 minutes ahead of jet before they flew into them just like AIR FRANCE 447 pilots From
B747/777/757/ 727. Pilot worldwide for 35 years Flight Dispatcher Aviation Weather expert
WHY is the airline “apologizing” for clear air turbulence??? Did he go up and somehow cause it? Did he tell those people to unfasten their seatbelts and move around? NO! They made the choice to do so, and unless other pilots, flying through the region, reported the CAT there was no way for the flight in question’s pilots to know it was there! NO ONE ‘”intended” those harmed to be so but it was NO ONE’s fault either! People have become such childish wusses! CAT isn’t something new, not even that violent sort. If people haven’t sense enough to keep seatbelts fastened in flight, it’s NOT from lack of knowledge that things happen, without warning and that are not necessarily preventable! We all make choices, but we don’t have a right to expect others to “pay” for our bad ones, in some way!