SQ321 incident: SIA CEO praises staff and promises help to ease anxiety

Singapore Airline CEO Goh Choon Phong, who has been at the forefront of managing the aftermath of a freak turbulence incidence on May 21 involving flight SQ321, thanked his staff and acknowledged the anxiety many of them were feeling. In a message to staff circulated on May 26, the same day the affected Boeing B777-ER was flown back to Singapore, Goh told them to get some rest and spend time with loved ones. “The last five days have been immensely challenging for everyone at Singapore Airlines following the extreme turbulence encountered on board flight SQ321 over the Irrawaddy Basin on Tuesday, 21 May, which very sadly resulted in one fatality and multiple serious injuries,” he wrote. “I offer our deepest condolences to the family of the deceased.” He added: “Our agility, dedication and team spirit were evident during this period. The Singapore-based crisis management team sprang into action, while our Bangkok station and their local partners mobilised all available resources and medical teams to receive the aircraft. A Go-Team, including first responders and staff volunteers from Singapore, was swiftly dispatched to Bangkok to provide additional support.”<br/>