A Singapore Airlines (SIA) flight bound for New York turned back to Singapore on Monday, 14 September, after an in-flight medical emergency.
Flight SQ24 had departed Changi Airport at about 12.24pm and was roughly four hours into its journey when it changed course and headed back towards Singapore, according to flight-tracking data.
The aircraft eventually landed at Changi Airport at 9.11pm.
This means the plane did not return four hours after taking off. Rather, it began turning back around four hours into the flight and landed almost nine hours after its original departure.
SIA Confirms In-Flight Medical Emergency
SIA confirmed to Mothership that SQ24 returned to Singapore because of a medical emergency during the flight.
The airline did not disclose further details about the person involved or the nature of the emergency, citing confidentiality.
There had been claims online that a pilot had fallen ill and that medical assistance was sought on board. However, SIA did not confirm those details, so the identity of the person involved remains unverified.
The aircraft operating the flight was an Airbus A350-900.
According to SIA, 144 passengers and 17 crew members were on board. Everyone disembarked normally after the aircraft arrived back at Changi.
Passengers were given assistance on the ground, including refreshments.
Plane Refuelled and Took Off Again
The disruption did not end the journey entirely.
After returning to Changi, the aircraft was refuelled before departing Singapore again later that night.
SIA told Mothership that the flight took off again at 11.58pm, less than three hours after landing back in Singapore.
FlightRadar24’s records also show two entries for SQ24 on 14 September: the first flight departed Singapore and was diverted back to Changi, while a later departure resumed the Singapore-to-New York journey.
SIA apologised to affected passengers for the disruption.
SQ24 operates between Singapore Changi Airport and New York’s John F. Kennedy International Airport.
