ISTANBUL – At least one British passenger was killed and many others were injured after a Singapore Airlines flight from London to Singapore encountered severe turbulence, the company said on Tuesday.

Flight SQ321, carrying 211 passengers and 18 crew members from Heathrow Airport to Singapore on Monday, “encountered severe turbulence en route,” according to the airline.

The aircraft diverted course to Bangkok, Thailand.

“We can confirm that there are injuries and one fatality on board the Boeing 777-300ER,” said the carrier.

Eighteen individuals have been hospitalized, and another twelve are receiving treatment in hospitals.

Bangkok’s Suvarnabhumi Airport General Manager Kittipong Kittikachorn identified the deceased as a 73-year-old British man. His death was “likely due to a heart attack, while seven people sustained head injuries and are critically injured,” Kittikachorn said, according to the Bangkok Post.

“The plane looks okay from the outside, but it is a mess inside,” he added.

(ai.mnm/Anadulo/PNA)