Singapore Airlines: Son's heartbreaking 'final text' to mum before man died on flight

A frightened passenger aboard the terror-infested Singapore Airlines flight, Josh Barker, sent last words to family members via text, under the assumption that these were his last moments as the Boeing aircraft tumbled 6,000ft during lethal turbulence.

His message to his loved ones, including his mother Allison: "I don't want to scare you, but I'm on a crazy flight. The plane is making an emergency landing... I love you all."

Allison narrated the excruciating hours of waiting for news to the BBC stating: "It was terrifying. I didn't know what was going on. We didn't know whether he'd (Josh) survived, it was so nerve wracking. It was the longest two hours of my life."

Geoffrey Ralph Kitchen, a 73 year old British grandfather, lost his life due to a heart attack amidst the disaster while Josh left the aircraft with minor injuries.

Flight SQ321 took off from London Heathrow at shortly after 10 pm carrying 211 passengers and 18 crew members, amongst them 47 Brits. Officials reported unexpected "severe turbulence" struck during breakfast time, some 11 hours into the 13-hour journey to Singapore, reports the Mirror.

As a consequence, the packed aircraft was diverted to Bangkok's Suvarnabhumi International Airport, where it made an emergency landing before 4pm local time. With alarming images surfacing showing lines of emergency vehicles on the runway, a convoy of 13 ambulances rushed to the scene in Bangkok.

Dozens of passengers were rushed to hospital, but those fit enough were able to continue their journey to Changi Airport in Singapore last night. Photos taken at the scene capture the emotional moment tourists were reunited with their loved ones after the terrifying ordeal.

Singapore Airlines has confirmed the nationalities of all the passengers; 56 from Australia, two from Canada, one from Germany, three from India, two from Indonesia, one from Iceland, four from Ireland, one from Israel, 16 from Malaysia, two from Myanmar, 23 from New Zealand, five from the Philippines, 41 from Singapore, one from South Korea, two from Spain, 47 from the United Kingdom, and four from the United States of America.

Flightradar24 reported that its tracking data showed the plane encountering turbulence at approximately 8.49am BST while flying over Myanmar. The flight tracking service said data sent from the aircraft indicated a "rapid change in vertical rate, consistent with a sudden turbulence event", adding that there were "some severe" thunderstorms in the area at the time.

A passenger from London, who identified himself as Andrew, told BBC Radio 5 Live that the seat belt sign came on, he followed the instruction, and "at that very moment, the plane suddenly dropped". He recalled: "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."

He heard "awful screaming" as the plane was dropping, and what "sounded like a thud".

Teandra Tukhunen, who was asleep at the time, said she "was woken up because I was thrown to the roof and then to the floor" at Samitivej Srinakarin Hospital in Bangkok. The 30 year old woman, who had her left arm in a sling at the hospital, added that she was pushed to the roof before she had a chance to fasten her seatbelt.

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