KUALA LUMPUR: The Foreign Ministry through the Embassy of Malaysia in Bangkok, Thailand, confirmed that nine Malaysians, including a crew member, were injured on board Singapore Airlines (SIA) Flight SQ321.
The airplane was flying from London to Singapore when it made an emergency landing at Suvarnabhumi International Airport in Bangkok, Thailand, on Tuesday (May 21).
In a statement on Wednesday, the ministry said that all nine Malaysians onboard the SIA flight are currently receiving treatment for their injuries sustained.
It said that a total of 16 Malaysians were on board the flight. The embassy has been coordinating with local authorities and hospitals, with consular officers visiting Malaysians who were admitted to several hospitals in Bangkok to provide assistance.
“Currently, six Malaysians are being treated at the Samitivej Srinakarin Hospital and three others at the Samitivej Sukhumvit Hospital.
“According to both hospitals, all of them had suffered physical and internal injuries, with one person in critical but stable condition,” read the statement.
The statement also noted that the Malaysians who were injured are under surveillance and awaiting medical results.
The ministry said it extends its deepest condolences to the family of the deceased and wishes a speedy recovery to all those injured in this unfortunate incident.
Malaysians requiring consular assistance may contact the Embassy of Malaysia in Bangkok at the embassy’s address at Kronos Sathorn Tower Level 17, 46 North Sathorn Road, Silom Bang Rak, Bangkok, by calling +66-2340-5731/5732 (during working hours) or +66-87-028-4659 (after working hours), or by e-mailing mwbangkok@kln.gov.my.
The flight with 211 passengers and 18 crew members were travelling from London to Singapore when it encountered sudden extreme turbulence over the Irrawaddy Basin at an altitude of 37,000 feet, approximately 10 hours after departure.
The pilot declared a medical emergency and diverted the Boeing 777-300ER aircraft to Bangkok, landing at 3.45pm local time, Tuesday.
The incident caused one death and multiple injuries. Suvarnabhumi Airport director Kittipong Kittikachorn earlier said the one fatality in the incident was a 73-year-old British man. – Bernama
