Teesside passenger tells of 'awful screaming' on flight hit by severe turbulence
The plane from Heathrow to Singapore had to divert to Bangkok
A passenger on the Singapore Airlines flight has been describing "awful screaming" on the plane which was hit by severe turbulence.
Another said everyone not wearing a seatbelt was "launched immediately into the ceiling" when the turbulence occurred.
A British passenger died and many other people were injured when the flight from Heathrow encountered severe turbulence.
Andrew Davies from Teesside said that the plane "suddenly dropped" with "very little warning".
Mr Davies said: "The thing I remember the most is seeing objects and things flying through the air.
"I was covered in coffee. It was incredibly severe turbulence.
"During the few seconds of the plane dropping there was an awful screaming and what sounded like a thud."
He added that when the seat belt sign came on, he followed the instruction, and "at that very moment, the plane suddenly dropped".
Mr Davies said he helped a woman who was "screaming in agony" after suffering a "gash on her head", adding that there were "so many injured people" including some with head lacerations and bleeding ears.
He added: "Lots of people injured - including the air stewards who were stoic and did everything they could.
"People's belongings scattered, coffee and water splattered the ceiling. Surreal.
"So many injured people, head lacerations, bleeding ears.
"A lady was screaming in pain with a bad back. I couldn't help her - just got her water."
Mr Davies said there was "very little warning", adding "the seatbelt sign came on, I put on my seatbelt straight away then the plane just dropped".
He added: "Lesson is - wear a seatbelt at all times. Anyone who is injured was not wearing a seatbelt. People who kept them on (including me) are not (as far as I could tell)."
Mr Davies said the emergency services in Bangkok were "quick to respond" to the incident after the flight was diverted to the city's Suvarnabhumi Airport.
Student Dzafran Azmir, 28, who was also on the flight, told Reuters: "Suddenly the aircraft starts tilting up and there was shaking so I started bracing for what was happening, and very suddenly there was a very dramatic drop, so everyone seated and not wearing a seatbelt was launched immediately into the ceiling.
"Some people hit their heads on the baggage cabin overhead and dented it, they hit the places where lights and masks are and broke straight through it."
"Deepest condolences"
The chief executive of Singapore Airlines has apologised after Geoff Kitchen died following severe turbulence on the carrier's flight from Heathrow Airport.
It comes as tributes have been paid to the 73-year-old , who suffered a suspected heart attack on the flight, according to a spokesman for Bangkok's Suvarnabhumi Airport, where the plane was diverted to.
The spokesman added that seven other people were seriously hurt and dozens more suffered minor injuries.
In a video statement posted on Facebook, Singapore Airlines chief Goh Choon Phong said he offered his "deepest condolences" to Mr Kitchen's family.
"We are deeply saddened by this incident," he said.
"On behalf of Singapore Airlines, I would like to express my deepest condolences to the family and loved ones of the deceased. We are very sorry for the traumatic experience that everyone on board SQ321 went through.
"We are fully co-operating with the relevant authorities on the investigations."
He said some 79 passengers and six crew members are receiving medical treatment in Bangkok and a relief flight carrying the remaining passengers and crew members arrived in Singapore early on Wednesday.