Singapore Airlines flight plunges 6000ft with 56 Aussies on board after being hit by turbulence

More details have emerged of the terror that unfolded in the skies after deadly turbulence hit a Singapore Airlines plane, causing it to suddenly plunge.

Eight of the 56 Australians on-board the Singapore Airlines flight have been injured and are being treated in a hospital in Bangkok, the government has confirmed.

In a statement, DFAT said consular officials from the Australian embassy in Bangkok are providing consular assistance to the eight Australians.

A British passenger died and more than 30 people were taken to hospital, seven with critical injuries, after Singapore Airlines Flight SQ321 experienced severe turbulence and plunged 6000ft, sending passengers crashing into the ceiling.

Images from inside Singapore Airlines Flight SQ321. Picture: Twitter

The flight from London Heathrow hit by severe turbulence. Picture: Twitter

The Boeing 777-300ER flight from London Heathrow to Singapore was forced to divert to Bangkok and make an emergency landing at 3.45pm local time on Tuesday (6.45pm AEST) when it struck what the airline described as “sudden extreme turbulence” over Myanmar, 11 hours into its journey.

Singapore Airlines CEO Goh Choon Phong said the airline apologised “for the trauma experienced”.

“On behalf of Singapore Airlines, I would like to express my deepest condolences to the family and loved ones of the deceased passenger,” he said.

“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.”

FOLLOW OUR LATEST COVERAGE HERE:

PASSENGERS ‘DOING SOMERSAULTS’

A passenger on his way to Australia for a wedding has told how passengers who were out of their seats ended up doing “somersaults” when Flight SQ321 suddenly plunged.

Jerry, a 68-year-old grandfather , told the BBC how the chaos unfolded after some slight turbulence.

“Suddenly the plane plunged, I don’t know how far but it was a long way and so sudden,” he said. “There was no warning at all.

“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.

Distressed passengers after the incident. Picture: Twitter

British passenger Jerry told of the horror on-board. Picture: BBC

“Suddenly it stopped, and it was calm again. The staff did their best to tend to the injured people, there were a lot of them.”

Jerry praised the staff, saying they did “a sterling job” despite having their own injuries.

“Eventually they told us we’d divert to Bangkok, which was a huge relief.”

A passenger told Reuters that passengers who were not wearing seatbelts smashed into the overheard cabins during the horrifying incident.

Ceiling fittings were ripped apart and pipework was exposed while a panicked stewardess was seen with blood pouring from her nose.

AUSSIE PASSENGERS COULD GET COMPENSATION

Peter Carter, director of Brisbane-based law firm Carter Capner, said passengers and crew could potentially be eligible for compensation.

“A plane can drop hundreds of metres in seconds and passengers who are unrestrained and flung weightless to the cabin ceiling believe at that moment they will die,“ he said.

“Passengers in that category will have permanent suffering at work and in their personal lives. Even those who remain seated will struggle to ever fly again.”

Peter Carter, director of Brisbane-based law firm Carter Capner.

Mr Carter is currently representing passengers who suffered injuries on a LATAM Airlines flight between Sydney and Auckland in March when the plane suddenly lost altitude, in an incident that was not related to turbulence.

Mr Carter said he is expecting to represent passengers who were on board Singapore Airlines Flight 321.

WHAT IS CLEAR AIR TURBULENCE?

PILOT ON WHAT HAPPENS WHEN TURBULENCE HITS

Captain Tony Lucas, a Qantas pilot and current president of the Australian and International Pilots Association, said that during a turbulence event the immediate priority for the pilot was the safety of the aircraft.

“We make sure it’s flying ok, and flying normally. The next thing is we navigate the aeroplane, make sure it’s pointed in a safe direction,” he said.

Communication is the next step.

Footage shows the chaos inside the plane. Picture: Twitter

“So in this sort of situation, we’re communicating with the cabin crew, trying to find out the extent of any issues in the cabin, the extent of any injuries. That determines our next course of action.

“With injuries to passengers in the cabin, we’ll try to determine how serious they are, and whether or not we need to divert to an airport, which in this case is what the Singapore Airlines pilots did.”

Food and debris on the floor of the plane. Picture: Twitter

In 29 years of flying, Capt Lucas said he had only experienced severe turbulence twice.

While nervous flyers might get extremely anxious during such moments, Capt Lucas said he had never had that feeling while piloting.

“I’ve had times where I thought ‘This is rough,’ but I’ve never been worried by it,” he said. “Boeing and Airbus build solid machinery. Even in the worst of clear air turbulence, the aeroplanes can withstand those types of forces on them.”

‘THROWN TO ROOF”: INJURED AUSSIE’S TERROR

Horrifying details are emerging of the terror endured by passengers when Flight SQ321 hit severe turbulence.

An Australian woman told how she was sleeping when she was suddenly thrown to the plane’s roof.

Melbourne woman Teandra Tuhkunen, who had her left arm in a sling, spoke to Sky News from Bangkok’s Samitivej Srinakarin Hospital.

The 30-year-old said she didn’t have time to put her seatbelt on after the sign came on.

Teandra Tuhkunen, from Melbourne, was injured in the flight. Picture: Sky News

“It was just so quick, over in a couple of seconds and then you’re just shocked. Everyone’s pretty freaked out.”

Ms Tuhkunen hailed the actions of the pilots, saying they “saved our lives, that’s all that matters in the end”.

A young British tourist on his way to Bali sent his mother a harrowing mid-flight text message that left her waiting for what she described as the longest two hours of her life.

Food and cutlery strewn across the galley kitchen of the Boeing plane. Picture: Twitter

Passengers were thrown to the ceiling. Picture: Twitter

Josh Barker texted: “I don’t want to scare you, but I’m on a crazy flight. The plane is making an emergency landing… I love you all.”

His mother Allison told the BBC: “’It was terrifying. I didn’t know what was going on.

“We didn’t know whether he’d survived, it was so nerve wracking.”

When she finally got through to her son, he assured her he was safe but was in a lot pain due to injuries to his teeth.

PHOTOS SHOW PASSENGERS ARRIVING IN SINGAPORE

Passengers who were on-board Flight SQ321 have arrived at Singapore’s Changhi Airport after their terrifying experience.

In a statement released shortly after the flight landed, Singapore Airlines confirmed 131 passengers and 12 crew members had arrived back in Singapore.

Passengers hug loved ones upon arrival at Changhi Airport in Singapore. Picture: AFP

The passengers hug family members after flying from Bangkok to Singapore. Picture: AFP

Some looked relieved to be arriving in Singapore. Picture: AFP

Those on board the flight arrive in Singapore. Picture: AFP

“Transportation to their homes or hotel accommodation has been arranged for passengers travelling to Singapore,” the statement said.

“For passengers with onward connections, we have rebooked them on alternative flights. We have also arranged hotel accommodation or lounge access for them to rest until their next flight.”

Passenger were flung to the ceiling when the plane dropped. Picture: Twitter

The damage inside the Boeing 777 flight. Picture: Twitter

The company said another 79 passengers and six crew members were still in Bangkok, where some are receiving medical care.

EMERGENCY ASSISTANCE FOR AUSSIES

The Australian embassy in Bangkok and the Australian high commission in Singapore are continuing to make inquiries to confirm if any further Australians have been affected.

Australians in need of emergency consular assistance should contact the government’s 24-hour consular emergency centre on [phone] (from overseas) or 1300 555 135 (from within Australia).

WHO WAS ON FLIGHT SQ321

A passenger list has revealed the nationalities of those on board the plane, with Australians outnumbering the others.

Among the 211 passengers and 18 crew on-board there were 56 Australians, 23 New Zealanders, 47 Brits, 41 Singaporeans, 16 Malaysians, five Filipinos, four each from Ireland and the US, three Indians, two each from Myanmar, Spain and Canada, and one citizen each from Germany, Israel, Iceland and South Korea.

‘SIGNIFICANT’: AVIATION EXPERT’S THEORY

An aviation consultant and a former aircraft accident investigator says the large size of the Singapore Airlines aircraft made the incident “very significant”.

“Small aircraft are more susceptible to severe turbulence and encounters resulting in injuries or indeed death,” Tim Atkinson told the BBC.

An aviation expert says turbulence is becoming more severe. Picture: Twitter

Mr Atkinson claimed turbulence was becoming more common and severe because of climate change.

Most turbulence occurs in cloud and is mild, but can be more severe in large clouds such as the cumulonimbus thunderstorm cloud.

INVESTIGATION INTO INCIDENT

Singapore’s government is deploying a team of investigators to Thailand and the US will also be sending a team of officials, the BBC reports.

The US National Transportation Safety Board said it will be sending an accredited representative and four technical advisers to support the team from Singapore, according to the BBC.

“The Transport Safety Investigation Bureau (TSIB) is in touch with its Thai counterparts and will be deploying investigators to Bangkok,” the Singapore transport ministry said in a statement.

AUSSIES IN THAI HOSPITAL

An ambulance arrives at Bangkok airport after one person was died and multiple people were injured on a Singapore Airlines flight that experienced “severe turbulence”. Picture: Twitter

“This is a terrible experience that these people have gone through. The Australian Government will provide consular assistance wherever we can, wherever it’s needed to those people.

“I know the Embassy in Bangkok and the High Commission in Singapore are actively trying to contact those Australians at the moment.

The crew after the terrifying incident. Picture: Twitter

“To anyone in our country or if you’ve got family who have been affected by this, make sure you call consular assist and you can find the number on Google. We will do everything we can to help.”

BRITISH VICTIM IDENTIFIED

The British passenger who died on-board has been identified as Geoffrey Kitchen, a 73-year-old musical theatre director from South Gloucestershire.

Mr Kitchen, a grandfather who ran a musical theatre group, died from a suspected heart attack, officials said, and his wife is thought to be among those in hospital in Bangkok, her condition unknown.

The couple were on a dream holiday taking in Singapore, Indonesia, Japan and Australia.

Mr Kitchen’s neighbours in Thornbury told The Sun the amateur actor and his wife Jill were looking forward to their extended holiday.

Geoff Kitchen died on the Singapore Airlines flight after it was hit by severe turbulence. Picture: Supplied

“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”.

The British Foreign Office is assisting Mr Kitchen’s family.

INJURED PASSENGER’S WIFE SPEAKS

Londoner Ofelia Galve took to the Singapore Airlines Facebook page to thank the airline for bringing her husband back to earth safely.

“I praise God that everyone were okay. My husband is one of the passengers in the flight,” Ms Galve wrote.

Ofelia Galve says her husband was injured but safe. Picture: Facebook

“I managed to speak to him. He is injured but he is okay. Praying for all the passenger and their family’s for peace and comfort.”

PASSENGER TELLS OF TERROR

Dzafran Azmir, 28, told Reuters the aircraft suddenly started “tilting up and there was shaking”.

“Very suddenly there was a very dramatic drop so everyone seated and not wearing a seatbelt was launched immediately into the ceiling. Some people hit their heads on the baggage cabins overhead and dented it, they hit the places where lights and masks are and broke straight through it.”

The BBC reported many passengers were suffering from head and back injuries.

Images showed food and cutlery strewn across the galley kitchen of the Singapore Airlines plane. Picture: Twitter

SINGAPORE PM SPEAKS

Singapore Prime Minister Lawrence Wong meanwhile sent his “deepest condolences” to the family and loved ones of the deceased, posting on Facebook that his country was “working closely with Thai authorities.”

Singapore’s transport minister Chee Hong Tat said in a Facebook post that he was “deeply saddened” by the incident and offered his condolences to the family of the fatality.

AIRLINE OFFERS CONDOLENCES

The airline “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”.

The flight is the most serious turbulence incident involving Australians since a dozen people were injured on a Honolulu to Sydney Hawaiian Airlines flight on June 30 last year.

During the 2023 incident, 12 people were treated on arrival by NSW Ambulance with one passenger and three crew later taken to St George and Prince of Wales hospitals.

Originally published as Singapore Airlines flight plunges 6000ft with 56 Aussies on board after being hit by turbulence