CEO of Singapore Airlines expresses gratitude to staff following a challenging flight.

Goh Choon Pong, the CEO of Singapore Airlines, has expressed gratitude to the carrier's staff for their dedication in the aftermath of a turbulent flight incident that resulted in the tragic death of a British man and injuries to several passengers.

In a memo obtained by the BBC, Mr. Goh acknowledged the immense challenges faced by the airline in the past five days, particularly after flight SQ321 from London to Singapore was forced to divert to Bangkok, Thailand due to an incident over the Indian Ocean on May 21st. The Boeing B777-ER was subsequently flown back to Singapore on Sunday.

Mr. Goh's memo commended the agility, dedication, and team spirit demonstrated by the airline's staff during this challenging period. He conveyed his heartfelt gratitude on behalf of the Singapore Airlines Board and the entire management team.

The incident occurred when flight SQ321 diverted to Bangkok last Tuesday following a medical emergency, with 211 passengers and 18 crew members onboard. Tragically, 73-year-old Geoff Kitchen from Gloucestershire passed away from a suspected heart attack during the turbulence, while over 100 others received medical treatment at a hospital in Bangkok.

Passengers and crew who were not seriously injured were promptly flown to Singapore the next day. The memo also stated that the airline continues to provide support to the injured passengers and staff, with Mr. Goh personally visiting the hospital last week.

In a video address following the incident, Mr. Goh extended his deepest condolences to Mr. Kitchen's family and apologized to everyone affected. Singapore Prime Minister Lawrence Wong also conveyed his condolences and assured that Singapore is collaborating closely with Thai authorities. He announced that Singapore's Transport Safety Investigation Bureau would conduct a thorough investigation into the incident.