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Photos show Singapore Airlines passenger on stretcher and debris as one killed in turbulence

Video and photos show the scene on a Singapore Airlines flight which experienced severe turbulence, causing the death of a 73-year-old British man.

Watch: Passenger carried on stretcher from Singapore Airlines flight

Photos and footage taken inside a Singapore Airlines flight show the devastation caused after the aircraft experienced severe turbulence.

A 73-year-old British man died in the incident, with authorities saying he likely suffered a heart attack.

His wife has been admitted to a hospital in Bangkok, Thailand, where the plane was forced to land after the turbulence hit. Images from inside the plane show emergency masks hanging down and damage to the ceiling.

Trays of food and bottles of water and wine lie scattered across the floor in the images. Video from the aftermath of the incident showed one passenger being taken away on a stretcher.

The interior of Singapore Airline flight SG321 is pictured after an emergency landing at Bangkok's Suvarnabhumi International Airport, Thailand, May 21, 2024. REUTERS/Stringer
The interior of the Singapore Airlines plane after it was hit by severe turbulence. (Reuters)
The interior of Singapore Airline flight SG321 is pictured after an emergency landing at Bangkok's Suvarnabhumi International Airport, Thailand, May 21, 2024. REUTERS/Stringer
Large chunks of the ceiling of the plane were damaged after the Singapore Airlines aircraft encountered severe turbulence. (Reuters)
The interior of Singapore Airline flight SG321 is pictured after an emergency landing at Bangkok's Suvarnabhumi International Airport, Thailand, May 21, 2024. REUTERS/Stringer
Debris was scattered all over the floor of the plane. (Reuters)
Material from the overhead locker hangs down towards passengers after the turbulence.  Obtained by Reuters/Handout via REUTERS
Material from the overhead locker hangs down towards passengers after the turbulence. (Reuters)

A total of 53 passengers and one crew member were injured in the incident, with seven people in a critical condition.

There were 211 passengers and 18 crew on board.

Flight SQ321 took off from London Heathrow at 10.17pm on Monday evening and was bound for Singapore.

However, the aircraft diverted to Bangkok after severe turbulence about 11 and a half hours into the flight.

The interior of Singapore Airline flight SG321 is pictured after an emergency landing at Bangkok's Suvarnabhumi International Airport, Thailand, May 21, 2024. REUTERS/Stringer
A 73-year-old British man died as a result of the severe turbulence on the Singapore Airlines flight. (Reuters)

One passenger, Andrew Davies, said the aircraft "suddenly dropped" and objects were thrown around the cabin.

He told BBC Radio 5 Live: “I was covered in coffee. During the few seconds of the plane dropping there was an awful screaming and what sounded like a thud."

He said he heard one woman "screaming in agony" who had a "gash on her head".

In a statement, the airline said: “Singapore Airlines flight SQ321, operating from London Heathrow to Singapore on 20 May, encountered severe turbulence en-route.

An unidentified passenger is stretchered from inside the Singapore Airlines flight after it encountered severe turbulence which caused one fatality and 30 injuries. (Reuters)
An unidentified passenger is stretchered from inside the Singapore Airlines flight after it encountered severe turbulence which caused one fatality and 30 injuries. (Reuters)
A Singapore airline aircraft is seen on tarmac after requesting an emergency landing at Bangkok's Suvarnabhumi International Airport, Thailand, May 21, 2024. Pongsak Suksi/Handout via REUTERS    THIS IMAGE HAS BEEN SUPPLIED BY A THIRD PARTY. MANDATORY CREDIT. NO RESALES. NO ARCHIVES  BEST QUALITY AVAILABLE
The Singapore Airlines aircraft on the tarmac at Bangkok's Suvarnabhumi International Airport, Thailand, after requesting an emergency landing. (Reuters)

“We can confirm that there are injuries and one fatality on board. Singapore Airlines offers its deepest condolences to the family of the deceased.

“Our priority is to provide all possible assistance to all passengers and crew on board the aircraft.

“We are working with the local authorities in Thailand to provide the necessary medical assistance and sending a team to Bangkok to provide any additional assistance needed.”

ANKARA, TURKIYE - MAY 21: An infographic titled ''Severe turbulence causes casualties on passenger plane
The route taken by the Singapore Airlines flight which hit severe turbulence. (Getty Images)

Tracking data published by FlightRadar24 showed the plane was cruising at an altitude of 37,000ft over the Andaman Sea off the coast of Myanmar shortly after 9am BST when it sharply dropped by 6,000ft.

Student Dzafran Azmir, 28, who was on the flight, told Reuters: “Suddenly the aircraft starts tilting up and there was shaking so I started bracing for what was happening, and very suddenly there was a very dramatic drop, so everyone seated and not wearing a seatbelt was launched immediately into the ceiling.

“Some people hit their heads on the baggage cabins overhead and dented it, they hit the places where lights and masks are and broke straight through it.”