- The brutal turbulence occurred over Myanmar around 10 hours into the flight
- One person died from a heart attack and more than 80 others were injured
Standing passengers caught out by deadly turbulence on an ill-fated Singapore Airlines flight yesterday were 'doing somersaults' as they were smashed into the cabin ceiling, a shocked passenger has said.
The brutal turbulence, which occurred over Myanmar on Tuesday morning around ten hours into the flight from Heathrow to Singapore, wrought havoc on board the aircraft with one British grandfather suffering a fatal heart attack and more than 80 other people sustaining injuries.
Harrowing images taken on board showed how the cabin was littered with debris as distraught passengers tried desperately to stem the blood flowing from severe cuts and blunt force injuries.
One passenger named as Jerry, who was travelling to his son's wedding aboard the ill-fated flight SQ321, said it was 'the worst flight of my life'.
Speaking to BBC reporters with a bandage covering part of his head, he said: 'Suddenly the plane plunged... there was no warning at all, and I ended up hitting my head on the ceiling, and my wife did.
'Some poor people walking around ended up doing somersaults. It was absolutely terrible.'
The plane carrying 211 passengers and 18 crew made an emergency landing at Bangkok's Suvarnabhumi Airport, where medical staff used gurneys to ferry the injured to ambulances waiting on the tarmac.
A relief flight carrying 131 passengers and 12 crew landed at Singapore's Changi Airport on Wednesday morning.
Relieved relatives greeted the arrivals with hugs but all were too shaken to talk to waiting reporters.
Another passenger, named as Josh, said that he blacked out during the turbulence. When he came to, he said pools of blood had collected on the cabin floor.
'There was water everywhere, blood everywhere, people's belongings just strewn all over the plane,' the Times reported.
At least one person died after a Singapore Airlines (SIA) SQ321 flight from London Heathrow to Singapore got into severe turbulence
The interior of Singapore Airline flight SG321 is pictured after the emergency landing
After around ten hours, the aircraft sharply dropped 6,000 feet in just five minutes, causing chaos in the cabin. Pictured, one air stewardess with blood on her face
Thai rescuers hurriedly carry out severely injured passengers on stretchers
Thai emergency services lift a man on a stretcher above the heads of injured passengers
Passengers of Singapore Airlines flight SQ321, which made an emergency landing in Bangkok, greet family members upon arrival at Changi Airport in Singapore
A relief flight carrying 131 passengers and 12 crew landed at Singapore's Changi Airport on Wednesday morning after the plane was forced to make an emergency landing in Thailand
Pictured: Passengers in the cabin, with belongings strewn across the floor and oxygen masks dangling from above
The victim of the fatal heart attack was named as Geoff Kitchen, 73, who was on his 'last big holiday' with his wife, who remains in hospital.
It was later revealed that the grandfather had helped fundraise for local businesses during the pandemic with a musical theatre group. He and his wife had spent the weekend with their grandchildren before jetting off for their 'trip of a lifetime'.
The retired insurance worker and his wife, from Thornbury, near Bristol, were heading on a six-week holiday to South East Asia and Australia.
Neighbours yesterday told MailOnline that he had suffered heart problems in recent years and had stents put in to widen his arteries.
Close friend Steve Dimond, 73, who lives a few doors down from Mr Kitchen's three-bed home, said: 'You wouldn't know it, he carried on as normal and was very fit and active.
'He was very involved with amateur dramatics and was helping me make scenery for our new production.
'He was a good singer, a fine actor, he was on the committee, he loved musical theatre.
'He and his wife like live music, all sorts, folk jazz, everything. He's known his wife since they were teenagers, they are a lovely couple. It's a terrible shock, he was a really nice bloke.'
He added: 'They were very adventurous and had been planning the holiday for a long time.
'They spent last weekend with their grandchildren because they wouldn't be seeing them for a while.'
Geoff Kitchen, 73, suffered a suspected heart attack on the flight, according to a spokesman for Bangkok's Suvarnabhumi Airport
A video posted online shows how Mr Kitchen (bottom left) was involved in his local musical theatre group
The damaged interior of the Singapore Airlines flight is seen in this screenshot
The interior of Singapore Airline flight SG321 after it made an emergency landing at Bangkok's Suvarnabhumi International Airport in Thailand
The airline said that it was working with Thai authorities to provide medical assistance to passengers, and was sending a team to Bangkok to provide any additional help needed
In a Facebook post shared on Tuesday evening, Thornbury Musical Theatre Group in Bristol said: 'It is with a heavy heart that we learn of the devastating news of the passing of our esteemed colleague and friend Geoff Kitchen in the recent Singapore Air Incident.
'Geoff was always a gentleman with the utmost honesty and integrity and always did what was right for the group.
'His commitment to TMTG was unquestionable and he has served the group and the local community of Thornbury for over 35 years, holding various offices within the group, including Chairman, Treasurer and most recently Secretary.
'Our thoughts and prayers go out to his wife and the family at this difficult time, and we ask that you respect their privacy.'
Passengers on the fateful flight told how they and flight crew desperately tried to save Mr Kitchen's life by delivering CPR, as well as tending to other injured passengers.
A video posted online in 2020 showed how Mr Kitchen led the group in a rendition of You Will Be Found from musical Dear Evan Hansen, as a way to 'say thank you to the people and businesses of Thornbury for everything you have done'.
The poignant message added: 'To our friends, family, audiences, local businesses, the Armstrong Hall which has given us a home for almost 50 years and everybody else in our local community, YOU ARE NOT ALONE.'
Geoffrey Kitchen, 73, ran the Thornbury Musical Theatre Group in Bristol
Thai workers escort a passenger and her child off the airline in a wheelchar
Passengers of Singapore Airlines flight SQ321, which made an emergency landing in Bangkok on its flight from London to Singapore, arrive at Changi Airport in Singapore
Singapore Airlines said the flight encountered 'sudden extreme turbulence' over Myanmar's Irrawaddy Basin at 37,000ft about ten hours after departure.
The aircraft hit an air pocket and plummeted an astonishing 6,000ft in just five minutes, with the sudden drop unleashing mayhem onboard and forcing the plane to make an emergency landing at Bangkok's Suvarnabhumi airport.
Terrified passengers have described how they had little to no warning to put their seatbelts on before the aircraft suddenly dropped while the crew were serving breakfast, with one passenger saying people were 'launched into the ceiling' as the plane fell through the sky.
Images posted on social media showed damage to the ceiling of the cabin, and food, cutlery and other debris strewn on the floor after the incident.
The 16-year-old Boeing 777 left Heathrow at 10.17pm on Monday and was diverted to Bangkok, landing at 3.45pm local time (9.45am BST) on Tuesday.
There were 211 passengers and 18 crew on board - including 47 passengers from the UK and four Irish nationals.
A Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO) spokesperson said it was supporting the family of the passenger and was in contact with local authorities.
Meanwhile, Singapore's Prime Minister said authorities will launch a 'thorough investigation' into the incident.
Lawrence Wong also offered condolences to Kitchen's family, adding: 'I also hope and pray that those who are injured will recover and return home soon.'
Oxygen masks are seen hanging from the ceiling in the cabin of the Singapore Airlines flight
Photos were posted on social media by accounts claiming to show the aftermath of the emergency landing. One (left) purportedly showed food strewn across the floor, while another (right) was said to show the ambulances on the tarmac at the airport
The interior of Singapore Airline flight SQ321 is pictured after an emergency landing at Bangkok's Suvarnabhumi International Airport, Thailand, May 21, 2024
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.'
Singapore Airlines chief executive Goh Choon Phong said in a statement: 'On behalf of Singapore Airlines, 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.
'We are providing all possible assistance and support to them, along with their families and loved ones, during this difficult time. The well-being of our passengers and staff is our utmost priority.'
Flightradar24 said its tracking data showed the plane encountering turbulence at approximately 8.49am BST while flying over Myanmar.
The flight tracking service said data sent from the aircraft showed a 'rapid change in vertical rate, consistent with a sudden turbulence event', adding that there were 'some severe' thunderstorms in the area at the time.
Sara Nelson, international president of the Association of Flight Attendants-CWA, representing over 50,000 workers at 20 airlines, said it is important for passengers to wear seatbelts whenever seated.
'It is a matter of life and death,' Nelson said.
Aviation consultant John Strickland said that 'turbulence happens' but even with millions of flights each year, incidents are 'limited' and 'fatalities are rare'.
He said: 'Exposure is greater in different parts of the world.
'The South Atlantic, Africa and the Bay of Bengal are all places that spring to mind where there's a greater incidence.
'There are discussions about whether climate change is influencing an increase in occurrences.'
Mr Strickland said airlines use a variety of methods to minimise the chances of a flight being affected by turbulence, such as weather forecasts, radar and reports from aircraft ahead.
A spokesperson for the UK Civil Aviation Authority said: 'Our deepest condolences go out to all those who have been affected.
'Accidents of this nature are extremely rare and aviation remains one of the safest forms of travel.'
