Global Effort to Uncover the Cause
A global effort is underway to discover what exactly went wrong on the turbulence terror Flight SQ321 as three Australians remain in intensive care. Aviation investigators from the United States National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) and Singapore Transport Ministry are expected to arrive in Bangkok on Thursday to investigate the suspected “clear-air turbulence” incident and inspect the Boeing aircraft to establish how the flight went so horribly wrong. They will join officers from Singapore’s Transport Safety Investigation Bureau who are already on the ground.

Singaporean Government’s Response
Singaporean Prime Minister Lawrence Wong vowed there would be a “thorough investigation” into the deadly incident. “I also hope and pray that those who are injured will recover and return home soon,” Mr. Wong said. Singapore’s transport minister Chee Hong Tat said they were welcoming the arrival of investigators.

Incident Details
The plane hit severe turbulence at 37,000ft (11,300m) then rapidly dropped about 6000ft (1800m). Bangkok’s Suvarnabhumi Airport received a distress call just 10 minutes before an emergency landing. The plane with 211 passengers and 18 crew had been bound for Singapore. One-hundred-and-four passengers — including 12 Australians — were injured in the severe turbulence, which forced the plane to make an emergency landing in Bangkok.

Repatriation and Medical Assistance
The first uninjured Australians arrived safely home late on Wednesday, to the palpable relief of their families. Consular officials from the Australian Embassy in Bangkok are assisting nine Australians taken to hospital in Bangkok following the Singapore Airlines flight SQ321 incident. A Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade spokesman confirmed officials are also continuing to make inquiries to confirm if any further Australians are affected.

Compensation and Legal Aspects
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.”

Impact and Response from Singapore Airlines
In their latest update, Singapore Airlines confirmed, as of late Wednesday evening Australian time, 74 passengers and six crew members remained in Bangkok. This includes those receiving medical care, as well as their family members and loved ones who were on the flight. Singapore Airlines Chairman Peter Seah expressed his heartfelt wishes to everyone impacted. “On behalf of the Singapore Airlines Board, I extend my deepest condolences to the family and loved ones of our passenger who passed away on 21 May 2024 in the SQ321 incident,” Mr. Seah said.

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

Passenger Injuries and Hospitalization
Thai authorities late on Wednesday said 20 passengers and crew remained in the Intensive Care Units in three hospitals, including three Australians, six British, and six Malaysians. But in other wards, there were another 28 patients including six Australians, one American, one British, and five Filipinos. All the Australians were deemed to be in a “stabilized satisfactory condition”.

Investigation into the Turbulence Incident
Data analysis by aviation tracking service Flightradar24 suggested the flight experienced more than one minute of extreme turbulence before effecting a further sharp controlled descent and diversion to the Thai capital. The Boeing 777-300ER was 10.5 hours into its journey flying at 37,000 feet over the Irrawaddy Delta in Myanmar when it hit sudden and severe turbulence before plunging 6000 feet (1829m) sending unbuckled passengers and crew crashing into the ceiling.

Conclusion
British retiree and musical theatre director Geoff Kitchen, 73, died from a suspected heart attack after he hit his head during the mayhem. His wife, Linda, is being treated in hospital after being thrown from her seat. More than 140 of the passengers and crew on-board the flight were put on a relief aircraft to Singapore to continue their onward journeys including to Australia. Seventy-nine passengers and six crew remained in Bangkok either in hospital, waiting at the bedside of loved ones or saying they were now too frightened to get on board a plane again.