MANILA – The Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) confirmed that five Filipinos were onboard flight SQ Flight 321, according to information received from the Philippine Embassy in Bangkok, Thailand.
According to DFA Spokesperson Asec. Ma. Teresita Daza, “the Filipinos are now in the hospital and the Embassy is currently in touch with the Filipinos.”
In latest reports, one passenger died while dozens were injured after a Singapore Airlines flight from London and bound for Singapore hit severe turbulence, 10 hours into the flight on Tuesday.
A report from Reuters also indicated that the sudden turbulence occurred over the Irrawaddy Basin in Myanmar, after which the pilot declared a medical emergency and diverted the flight to Bangkok.
The fatality was reported to be a 73-year-old British man, who died due to a suspected heart attack while 30 passengers were injured during the flight, the report stated.
In a media briefing earlier in Manila, DFA Sec. Enrique Manalo shared his concern over the incident, saying “it is unfortunate” and that the Philippine Embassy in Bangkok is “now monitoring the situation with them.”
Meanwhile, the DFA said that no information on the identities of the five Filipino passengers will be shared for privacy reasons.