The headline has been corrected to rectify an error that stated the flight was heading to Bangkok. The flight was actually en route to Singapore.

A Singapore Airlines flight from London made an emergency landing in Bangkok on Tuesday, May 21, due to severe turbulence, officials reported. One passenger died, and local media reported multiple injuries.

Singapore Airlines did not specify when the injuries and death occurred, but a passenger who spoke to Reuters said the turbulence caused those not wearing seatbelts to collide with the overhead cabins.

Thai media reported 30 injuries, though Singapore Airlines did not confirm the exact number.

The Boeing 777-300ER, carrying 211 passengers and 18 crew, was heading to Singapore when it made the emergency landing, the airline stated.

According to FlightRadar24 data, after about 11 hours of flying from London, the aircraft suddenly dropped from an altitude of 37,000 feet to 31,000 feet within five minutes as it approached Thailand after crossing the Andaman Sea.

"Suddenly, the aircraft started tilting and shaking, so I braced myself. Then there was a dramatic drop, causing those not wearing seatbelts to be thrown into the ceiling," Dzafran Azmir, a 28-year-old student on board, told Reuters.

"Some people hit their heads on the overhead baggage compartments, denting them and breaking through the panels containing lights and masks," he added.

An official at Bangkok's Suvarnabhumi Airport confirmed one death but could not verify the total number of injuries.

Thai immigration police stated that medical personnel had boarded the plane to assess injuries but could not confirm the number. Uninjured passengers had disembarked.

"Our priority is to provide all possible assistance to passengers and crew on board," the airline stated. "We are working with local authorities in Thailand to provide necessary medical assistance."

According to a 2021 study by the National Transportation Safety Board, turbulence-related accidents are the most common type of airline incidents. From 2009 to 2018, turbulence accounted for over a third of reported airline accidents, most resulting in serious injuries but no aircraft damage.

Singapore Airlines, renowned as a leading global airline, has not experienced any major incidents in recent years. Its last fatal accident was on October 13, 2000, when a flight from Singapore to Los Angeles via Taipei crashed into construction equipment at Taiwan Taoyuan International Airport after attempting to take off from the wrong runway, killing 83 of the 179 people on board.

According to the Aviation Safety Network, Singapore Airlines has had seven accidents. Boeing did not immediately respond to a request for comment.