The number of Australians who have been hospitalized has risen after deadly turbulence on a Singapore Airlines flight forced an emergency landing.
Nearly 60 Australians were on board flight SQ321 from London to Singapore on Tuesday when the plane suddenly fell more than 6,000 feet (about 1.8 km) in just five minutes.
The Boeing 777-300ER aircraft was traveling near the Gulf of Martabar, off the coast of Myanmar, when it collided with an air pocket, causing severe turbulence.
Australian officials were assisting 12 Australian citizens and one permanent resident in Bangkok hospital who were injured during the incident, a Department of Foreign Affairs spokesperson said on Thursday.
Another Australian was hospitalized but has since been discharged, the spokesperson said.
“The Australian Government offers its condolences to those affected by the Singapore Airlines Flight SQ321 incident,” they said in a statement.
The number of hospitalized Australians being treated for injuries following the horror Singapore Airlines flight has risen to 13, including one permanent resident.
Some of the 56 Australians on board the flight began heading home as the relieved passengers landed in Sydney on Wednesday night.
Beverley Mayers recalled the non-stop tears after getting off the plane.
“My son came to pick me up and I said, ‘I have to stay with you tonight and see my other children and hug them,'” she told Nine News.
Another passenger, Ali Buhari, was returning home from his honeymoon with his wife when the turbulence hit.
He said the cabin became a scene of bloody chaos as other passengers were thrown from their seats.
Buhari and many others “temporarily fainted” during the free fall and only realized the damage the fall caused after “coming to their senses.”
“I saw… a guy sitting right in front of me, sideways in the hallway,” he told Sunrise.
‘(There were) people everywhere. There is blood on the ceiling… Many oxygen masks have also fallen off.’
While other passengers were bleeding and had other injuries, the newlyweds luckily escaped unharmed during the incident as they were both wearing seat belts.
“I normally don’t wear my seatbelt when I’m on a plane once the seatbelt goes off, but by chance, I had it on this time,” he said.
“I’m very lucky because he saved us.”
The Boeing 777-300ER plane was traveling near the Gulf of Martabar, off the coast of Myanmar, when it fell 6,000 feet in five minutes causing chaos on board
A 73-year-old Briton died of a suspected heart attack, while dozens more were injured after being thrown through the cabin (pictured, blood on the ceiling).
A 73-year-old Briton died of a suspected heart attack after the plane fell in midair and sent passengers flying through the cabin.
At least 30 passengers were injured 10 hours into the flight from London to Singapore after hitting an airbag.
Although traumatic, the severe level of turbulence was unusual, Australian and International Pilots Association safety and technical director Steve Cornell said.
There would have been fewer injuries if passengers had kept their seat belts fastened, even when the sign was off, he said.
Singapore Airlines CEO Goh Choon Phong said in a statement that he and the airline extend their condolences to “the family and loved ones of the passenger who passed away.”
“We are deeply saddened by this incident and are committed to providing all necessary support and assistance to the passengers and crew members who were on board SQ321, as well as their families and loved ones.”
He added that the airline had “quickly sent a team” to Bangkok to assist crew on the ground.