Harrowing photographs show terrified passengers and a bloodied air stewardess aboard the doomed Singapore Airlines flight caught in extreme turbulence.
A Brit died and several other passengers aboard Flight SQ321 have suffered injuries after it encountered difficulty amid thunderstorms at around 37,000ft. It was destined for Singapore Changi Airport but had to make an emergency landing at Suvarnabhumi International Airport in Bangkok, Thailand, after dropping 6,000ft in just three minutes.
Photos, which have emerged on social media site X, show distressed passengers, including a severely bloodied man in his seat. In another picture, a woman is embraced by her fellow passenger. Singapore Airlines staff are pictured in their seats, and one woman has a cut on her face. Further images capture the carnage left on the floor of the cabin. Food from the in-flight meals is strewn on the floor amid the debris.
Air masks are seen deployed, as in the case when aircrafts experience emergency landings. However, one snap shows ceiling fittings ripped apart and the pipework exposed. Machinery is hanging from the galley where trolleys are stored.
Terrified passengers are pictured amid the chaos at 37,000ft (X)
An air stewardess is pictured with blood on her face following sustaining an injury (X)More than 200 passengers were aboard the Boeing 777, which left London Heathrow last night. A passenger on board said the plane suffered a "dramatic drop", meaning people not wearing a seatbelt were "launched immediately into the ceiling". The deceased passenger, a 73-year-old Brirish man, likely suffered a heart attack, airport authorities said.
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The flight, operated by a Boeing 777-300ER jet, departed at 10.17pm on Monday and was diverted to Bangkok, landing at 3.45pm local time (9.45am BST) on Tuesday. Singapore Airlines said: "Singapore Airlines flight SQ321, operating from London Heathrow to Singapore on May 20, encountered severe turbulence en-route.
"We can confirm that there are injuries and one fatality on board. Singapore Airlines offers its deepest condolences to the family of the deceased. 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."
Pictures from inside the plane taken by a reporter show the carnage caused by the aircraft being shaken violently (ViralPress)
Machinery is hanging from the galley where trolleys are stored (ViralPress)Tracking data published by FlightRadar24 shows the plane was cruising at an altitude of 37,000 feet over the Andaman Sea off the coast of Myanmar shortly after 9am BST when it sharply dropped by 6,000 feet.
Airport authorities said around 100 of the passengers are well enough to continue their journey to Singapore this evening. Those injured have largely suffered minor wounds, including cuts and bruises, the airport confirmed in a press conference this afternoon. No one is thought to be in a critical condition.
Singapore's minister for transport Chee Hong Tat said in a statement posted on Facebook: "I am deeply saddened to learn about the incident onboard Singapore Airlines flight SQ321 from London Heathrow to Singapore."
He said several organisations are "providing support to the affected passengers and their families", adding: "My deepest condolences to the family of the deceased."
Injured passengers were assisted off the plane after the emergency landing (ViralPress)Speaking this morning, Rishi Sunak's spokesman said: "Obviously these are very distressing reports. Our thoughts are with the families of anyone injured or killed."
Two British Airways cabin crew suffered broken legs when a flight from Singapore to Heathrow was affected by severe turbulence over the Bay of Bengal on June 28 last year.
A report by the Air Accidents Investigation Branch said "unsecured cabin crew were thrown around in the cabin", resulting in two crew members being seriously injured and three sustaining minor injuries. No passengers were hurt and the plane returned to Singapore.
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