22 people from Flight SQ321 getting treatment for spinal injuries, 6 for head injuries: Hospital

BANGKOK – Twenty people who were aboard a

Singapore Airlines flight that hit severe turbulence

and diverted to Bangkok for an emergency landing on May 21 remain in intensive care, a hospital official has said.

“The number of patients in ICU remains the same,” Dr Adinun Kittiratanapaibool, director of Bangkok’s Samitivej Srinakarin Hospital told reporters on May 23, referring to the medical facility’s intensive care unit.

“Those in ICU are those that need close attention,” he said, and added that currently there were no life-threatening cases.

Of the 40 people from the flight still under treatment, 22 patients have spinal cord injuries and six have brain and skull injuries, he said.

The oldest patient at the hospital is 83 years old and the youngest a two-year-old child who suffered a concussion, he added.

Dr Adinun had said 41 people were still under treatment, but later said one person had been discharged.

Ten British, nine Australian, seven Malaysian and four Philippine citizens were among the 41 people, according to him.

He did not provide any breakdown of passengers and crew under treatment.

One passenger died of a suspected heart attack

and dozens were injured after Singapore Airlines flight SQ321 encountered what the airline described as sudden, extreme turbulence while flying over Myanmar.

More than 140 passengers and crew members from the

flight reached Singapore on May 22.

REUTERS