Ambassador Jojie Samuel said the Malaysian passengers from SIA flight SQ321 are being treated at Samitivej Srinakarin Hospital and Samitivej Sukhumvit Hospital. (Reuters pic)
BANGKOK: Three of the Malaysian passengers from Singapore Airlines (SIA) flight SQ321 are currently warded in an intensive care unit (ICU), but none are in critical condition.
Malaysian ambassador to Thailand Jojie Samuel said he had been informed that although their conditions are not life-threatening, the passengers have to remain in the ICU due to their head and back injuries.
“The three in the ICU are conscious and can talk. The other six Malaysians also warded due to dizziness and minor injuries are in stable condition and under surveillance by doctors, too,” he said when contacted here today.
According to him, the Malaysian victims being treated are aged 31 to 65 years old, with six at Samitivej Srinakarin Hospital and three at Samitivej Sukhumvit Hospital.
SIA flight SQ321 was travelling from London to Singapore with 211 passengers and 18 crew members when it encountered sudden extreme turbulence over the Irrawaddy Basin at an altitude of 37,000ft, 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 on Tuesday.
The incident caused one death and multiple injuries. Suvarnabhumi Airport director Kittipong Kittikachorn yesterday said the only fatality in the incident was a 73-year-old British man.
Earlier, Suvarnabhumi Airport police station deputy superintendent Weerasak Muangsuwan said in a statement that Thai police had sent the body to the Chakri Naruebodindra Medical Institute’s forensic department for an autopsy.
“No one has come forward yet to claim the body, as the deceased’s wife is also injured and still receiving treatment,” he said.
Trichada Sritada, the political spokesperson for the Thai public health ministry, said following the incident, a total of 41 patients had been treated at Samitivej Srinakarin Hospital, 14 at Samitivej Sukhumvit Hospital, and two at Bangkok Hospital.
