A passenger aboard a Singapore Airlines flight from London to Singapore died during “extreme turbulence” that left another 30 passengers injured on Tuesday.
The airline shared that the Boeing 777-300ER plane diverted to Bangkok, the airline shared on its Facebook page. The flight was carrying a total of 211 passengers and 18 crew members.
According to the airline, as of Tuesday, 18 people had been hospitalized for the injuries they sustained, and another 12 were being treated for injuries.
The passenger who died was identified as a 73-year-old British man, the General Manager of Suvarnabhumi Airport, Kittipong Kittikachorn, shared with CNN.
The flight landed in Bangkok at 4:45 a.m. EST on Tuesday after being rerouted due to the turbulence, the airline shared. It was there that medical attention was administered to those on the flight.
“The remaining passengers and crew are being examined and given treatment, where necessary, at Suvarnabhumi International Airport in Bangkok,” the company said in its post.
On social media, Singapore’s President Tharman Shanmugaratnam shared his “condolences to the family and loved ones of the deceased.”
“We do not have the details of those affected, but know that the government ministries and agencies, as well as SIA, are doing their utmost to support all those affected and working with the authorities in Bangkok, where the plane had been diverted to,” Shanmugaratnam said.
Turbulence, which is caused by a plane flying through clashing bodies of air moving at different speeds, is usually mild but has been known to cause severe injuries and even death before.