2 S’poreans Are Still in ICU Due to Injuries from SQ321 Incident

We’ve been waiting with bated breath as more information unfolds about the recent SQ321 turbulence.

30 people were reported to be injured and one person tragically passed when it happened on Tuesday (21 May 2024). Bangkok hospitals report higher numbers under their care due to medical check-ups and monitoring.

You can watch this short video for a summary of what happened:

On Wednesday (22 May), Samitivej Srinakarin Hospital, a hospital in Bangkok that is among the three taking care of the injured from the incident, released a statement with updates on the situation in the hospitals.

Five Singaporeans Treated in Three Hospitals, Two Of Them in ICU

According to the Samitivej Srinakarin Hospital, five Singaporeans are being treated in three hospitals in Bangkok – Samitivej Srinakarin Hospital, Samitivej Sukhumvit Hospital and Bangkok Hospital.

Among the five, two of them are receiving medical treatment in the hospital’s intensive-care unit (ICU).

Here’s a list of where our injured Singaporeans are:

• In Samitivej Srinakarin Hospital: One Singaporean in ICU.
• In Samitivej Sukhumvit Hospital: One Singaporean in ICU; One in-patient care.
• In Bangkok Hospital: Two Singaporeans in in-patient care.

There are 18 other people, from Australia, Britain, Malaysia, Hong Kong, New Zealand and the Philippines, who are also receiving care in the ICU.

Five Singaporean Passengers and One Crew Member Returning

While we hope that those injured in the hospitals recover well, we can heave a sigh of relief knowing that more people have been discharged and are returning home.

SIA released a statement on Wednesday (22 May) with confirmation that five passengers who were on board SQ321 are expected to return home that day, but 74 other passengers and six crew members are still in Bangkok.

One crew member is expected to return to Singapore on Thursday (23 May).

SIA said that family members and loved ones who want more information can contact these hotlines:

• Singapore: +65 6542 3311
• Australia: 1800-845-313
• The UK: 080-0066-8194

Hospitals in Bangkok Caring For SQ321 Patients

Thankfully, under the care of the doctors and nurses in Bangkok, 27 patients have been discharged but many are still in hospital care.

There are 41 patients in Samitivej Srinakarin Hospital, 15 in Samitivej Sukhumvit Hospital and 2 in Bangkok Hospital.

Others are either being treated at the Suvarnabumi Medical Clinic or transferred to various hospitals.

Samitivej Srinakarin Hospital is a “quick” 20-minute drive from the Suvarnabhumi Airport, and it is part of a private healthcare network in Thailand.

They are located in the Eastern region of Bangkok and they care for the most number of patients from the incident. This is potentially due to its distance from the airport, allowing for patients to be transferred from the hospital to the airport quickly.

The other hospital, Samitivej Sukhumvit, is also under the same private network, and it is located at the heart of Bangkok with 275 beds and a multi-lingual, multi-capable and word-standard taskforce.

Bangkok Hospital was awarded as “One of the World’s Best Hospital” in 2024 as a representative of Thailand. They offer a wide range of services and can ensure that SQ321 patients can get the care in need.