Severe turbulence on Singapore Airlines flight SQ321 from London to Singapore left one passenger dead and 30 others injured on Tuesday, forcing an emergency landing at Suvarnabhumi Airport in Thailand's capital Bangkok, Thai authorities said.
The deceased was a 73-year-old British man, according to local reports.
The Boeing 777-300ER jet experienced severe turbulence en route and was forced to divert to Bangkok, where it landed at 15:45 local time, Singapore Airlines said in a statement.
There were a total of 211 passengers and 18 crew members on board the flight, according to the airline.
The injured passengers, including seven in critical condition, were rushed to a nearby hospital for treatment, said Kittipong Kittikachorn, Suvarnabhumi airport general manager.
"We received the message that a Singapore Airlines flight was seeking to land at Suvarnabhumi airport because a turbulence had injured passengers onboard. That's all we knew at that time -- someone was injured. Upon the airliner's landing at Suvarnabhumi airport, medical personnel rushed into the cabin. They found numerous injured passengers and one dead. Suvarnabhumi airport immediately activated an emergency plan, and relevant departments and staff entered the cabin to assist in the rescue," said Kittipong.
Airport officials are providing assistance to the remaining passengers while a replacement aircraft is scheduled to land at the airport on Tuesday night, Kittipong told a news conference.
The flight experienced a sudden and dramatic descent of over 1,800 meters in five minutes when approaching Thailand, according to a flight data platform.
One dead, 30 injured after Singapore airliner hits severe turbulence
One dead, 30 injured after Singapore airliner hits severe turbulence
On his second official visit to China, Prime Minister of the Republic of Vanuatu Charlot Salwai expressed admiration for China's remarkable ability to balance preserving its cultural heritage with embracing innovative transformation.
Salwai paid an official visit to China from July 7 to 12. During his trip, he toured the southern province of Guangdong and explored the megacities of Beijing and Shanghai. His visit included tours of high-tech companies, a ride on a high-speed train, and a performance of traditional Cantonese opera.
In an interview with China Central Television Network (CCTV) aired on Friday, Salwai recounted his journey starting with a warm welcome that included enjoying Beijing Roast Duck, also known as Peking Duck -- a culinary delight introduced to him by the Chinese ambassador in Vanuatu.
"Many had to say. Peking Duck. Because we had it here on our arrival, so it was very tasty. And I understand that the Chinese ambassador in Vanuatu brought us to one of the traditional restaurants, small but beautiful," he said. The prime minister sees China's preservation of its culture as a vital lesson in understanding one's roots and the journey to the present day, acknowledging China's efforts to integrate cultural preservation with modernization.
"It's going to be my second official visit to China. I'm always impressed to see big changes and especially innovations made by China and especially the cities. Because a big impression is to see how China continues to maintain and keep its culture. Because I think it's the basis of everything -- to know where you come from and to understand where we are today. I feel that China is doing a lot to maintain its culture, but at the same time, doing, innovating to transform its culture,” Salwai said.
He also emphasized the importance of learning from China's sustainable development strategies.
"Today, it comes from a long way, some hardship, the government, and also the people of China. So, I'm impressed to see what is done, especially how China associates infrastructure development with nature. That's meant to keep, continue to keep the environment. It takes effort with the climate change by maintaining the ecosystem. I think it's something that, for a small country like Vanuatu, is important to learn. So, we are here. I'm here with my delegation to learn," Salwai said.
Vanuatu's PM commends China's cultural preservation, innovation amid fast growth
