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SQ321 turbulence: Thai doctor hailed for leading evacuation to treat injured
- Wichanya Burirak described the scene at Suvarnabhumi Airport as chaotic ahead of the Singapore Airlines plane’s earlier-than-expected arrival
- The graduate of Chiang Mai University, which commended its alumna’s role in the operation, said she has enjoyed watching planes since she was a child
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A Bangkok airport doctor who led the medical emergency operation involving the turbulence-stricken Singapore Airlines flight recalled how her team swiftly executed the rescue efforts at short notice.
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An elderly British passenger died and dozens of others were injured when flight SQ321 from London was battered by severe turbulence, forcing the Boeing 777 to divert to Suvarnabhumi Airport in Thailand’s capital.
Wichanya Burirak said it was chaotic with “all sorts of people walking and running around” as she and her colleagues waited on the tarmac to receive the aircraft, which touched down earlier than expected.
“Initially our team was told the aircraft would arrive around 4pm, but it landed early at 3.51pm,” Wichanya said, adding she did not have much time to draw up an evacuation plan.
The doctor received a report that one person had died before she entered the plane carrying 211 passengers and 18 crew members.
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Wichanya inspected the twin-aisle jetliner’s heavily damaged cabin strewn with food and luggage, while oxygen masks and electrical panels hung from the ceiling as passengers sat in shock.
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