Following the devastating incident on Singapore Airlines Flight SQ321 that resulted in one passenger’s death and dozens injured, Boeing is speaking out.
According to TMZ, the company released a statement announcing its support for Singapore Airlines. “We are in contact with Singapore Airlines regarding flight SQ321 and stand ready to support them. We extend our deepest condolences to the family who lost a loved one, and our thoughts are with the passengers and crew.”
211 passengers and 18 crew members were on the Boeing 777-300 heading from London to Singapore on Tuesday, May 21, when it hit bad turbulence. The airplane took a 6,000-foot drop, going from 37,000 feet to 31,000 feet, in just five minutes. The plane was over the Andaman Sea at about 11 hours into the flight when the incident occurred.
The terrifying situation caused the flight crew to make an emergency landing in Bangkok. It was then reported that more than 30 of the passengers were injured and one person died due to the intense drop, causing those on board to be hit by flying debris. Some on board were even thrown around in the cabin. A video of the aftermath was posted on X (formerly Twitter).
Emergency crews from Samitivej Srinakarin Hospital rushed to the scene to help passengers and crew off of the Boeing aircraft. Singapore Airlines also issued a statement about the ordeal by offering its condolences to the family of the deceased.
Boeing has been making headlines recently over incidents involving its airplanes. Most recently, a Boeing 737 was forced to make an emergency landing after “irregularity” with one of its wings.
Dead Passenger Onboard Singapore Airlines Has Been Identified
Meanwhile, The Guardian reports that the passenger who died onboard Singapore Airlines Flight SQ321 with identified as 73-year-old Geofrey Kitchen. He was a resident of Thornbury, Gloucestershire.
Kitchen, who is from the UK, is a retired insurance professional turned amateur dramatics performer. He had been traveling on board the Boeing 777-300 with his wife Linda. The couple was to stop over in Singapore en route to Australia where they were going to go on a six-week holiday.
Jill Dimond, a close friend and neighbor of Kitchen, told the media outlet, “He was a well-loved man. He was clever, funny, a fantastic performer, deeply caring about theatre. It was his passion.”
Kitchen also established the Thornbury Musical Theatre Group in retirement. He also performed in a Dick Whittington pantomime last Christmas.