A hospital in the Thai capital had said on Saturday, that forty three people on board a Singapore Airlines flight that hit severe turbulence are still hospitalised in Bangkok, four days after the incident.
The 43 patients had been taken to three different hospitals in Bangkok, the Samitivej Srinakarin hospital revealed in a statement.
It was further revealed that out of the 43 patients, seven were in intensive care, three of them being Australians, two Malaysians, one British and one New Zealander.
Two people have so far, been discharged from Samitivej Srinakarin, while two from Samitivej Sukhumvit hospital were transferred to Samitivej Srinakarin to join hospitalised relatives, the statement added.
On Thursday, the hospital director told reporters that 22 patients admitted had spinal cord injuries and six had brain and skull injuries, but none of these injuries were life-threatening.
One elderly passenger had died of a suspected heart attack and dozens were injured on Tuesday, after Singapore Airline Flight SQ321, travelling from London to Singapore, encountered what the airline described as unprecedented, extreme turbulence while flying over Myanmar.
The flight conveying 211 passengers and 18 crew rerouted to Bangkok for an emergency landing soon after the incident.
Why It Matters
This incident highlights the importance of in-flight safety and the risks associated with severe turbulence. This will no doubt prompt airlines across the globe to review safety protocols and passenger awareness.
It might also lead to debates about aviation safety standards and the need for improved measures to mitigate the effects of extreme turbulence. Finally, there is the likelihood that this unfortunate event will influence future airline regulations and aircraft designs.