Singapore Airlines CEO Commends Staff After Turbulent Flight Incident
Singapore Airlines CEO, Goh Choon Phong, has expressed deep gratitude to the airline’s staff following a severe turbulence incident that resulted in the death of a British passenger and injuries to dozens of others.
“The last five days have been immensely challenging for everyone at Singapore Airlines,” Mr. Goh wrote in a memo obtained by the BBC. He praised the staff’s agility, dedication, and team spirit during the crisis.
The incident occurred on May 21, when flight SQ321 from London to Singapore encountered severe turbulence over the Indian Ocean, necessitating a diversion to Bangkok, Thailand. The Boeing B777-ER was later flown back to Singapore.
In his memo, Mr. Goh thanked the employees on behalf of the airline’s board and management team, acknowledging their hard work and resilience. “On behalf of the [Singapore Airlines] Board and the entire management team, I would like to thank you from the bottom of my heart,” he wrote.
Flight SQ321, carrying 211 passengers and 18 crew members, diverted to Bangkok due to a medical emergency. Geoff Kitchen, a 73-year-old from Gloucestershire, died from a suspected heart attack following the turbulence. Over 100 other passengers were treated at a hospital in Bangkok, while those not seriously injured continued their journey to Singapore the next day.
Mr. Goh personally visited the hospital to support the injured passengers and crew. In a video address, he extended his deepest condolences to Mr. Kitchen’s family and apologized to all affected by the incident.
Singapore Prime Minister Lawrence Wong also conveyed his condolences to Mr. Kitchen’s family and loved ones, emphasizing that Singapore is working closely with Thai authorities. He announced that Singapore’s Transport Safety Investigation Bureau would conduct a thorough investigation into the incident.
Singapore Airlines, known for its strong safety record, last experienced a fatal accident in 2000, when a Boeing 747 attempted to take off from the wrong runway at a Taiwan airport, resulting in 83 fatalities out of 179 people onboard.
