Singapore airline passenger's emotional text mid-turbulence
A mum has revealed the terrifying text she received from her son while he was on board Singapore Airlines flight that plunged 6,000 feet in a matter of minutes.
As turbulence hit the plane 11 hours into its journey from London to Singapore, Josh Barker sent what he thought would be his final text to his mum at 9.10am on May 21.
“I don’t want to scare you, but I’m on a crazy flight. The plane is making an emergency landing… I love you all," his text read.
His mother, Alison recalled the most "terrifying" two hours of her life after receiving the text, as she waited to hear from her son who was en route to Bali.
“It was terrifying. I didn’t know what was going on,” she told BBC.
"We didn't know whether he'd survived, it was so nerve wracking. It was the longest two hours of my life.
"It was awful; it was petrifying."
She said that while her son was lucky to have survived the incident, he was still in “a lot of pain” having sustained minor injuries to his teeth.
The aircraft was hit by "severe turbulence" 11 hours into the 13-hour flight to Singapore and was forced to make an emergency landing in Bangkok, Thailand.
71 people were left injured, and one man, British grandfather Geoffrey Kitchen passed away after suffering a heart attack when the turbulence hit.
Of the 211 passengers on board, 56 were Australians and 23 were from New Zealand.
Singapore Airlines CEO Goh Choon Phong has issued a public apology for the incident in a video message saying that the airline is cooperating with investigations.
"We are deeply saddened by this incident. It has resulted in one confirmed fatality, and multiple injuries," he said.
"On behalf of Singapore Airlines, I would like to express my deepest condolences to the family and loved ones of the deceased.
"We are very sorry for the traumatic experience that everyone on board SQ321 went through... our deepest apologies to everyone affected by this incident."
He also said that 143 people who had been on the flight had been taken to Singapore this morning, while the remaining 85 - including six crew members - were still in the Thai capital.
"Singapore Airlines swiftly dispatched a team to Bangkok last night, and they have been helping our colleagues with the support on the ground," he said.
"A relief flight with 143 of the SQ321 passengers and crew members who were able to travel landed in Singapore this morning at 5.05am.
"Another 79 passengers and six crew members are still in Bangkok.
"This includes the injured who are receiving medical treatment, as well as their families and loved ones who were on the flight.
"Singapore Airlines will continue to extend all possible support to them."
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