Sheer panic and horror gripped passengers as severe turbulence struck a Singapore Airlines flight from London on Tuesday. The turbulence led to the death of one passenger and injured 30 others, prompting an emergency landing in Bangkok.

The flight encountered an air pocket in Thai airspace before the turbulence hit, according to a senior official at Thailand's airport, as reported by Reuters.

Videos taken after the emergency landing show the inside of the aircraft in disarray, with dented overhead bins, food scattered on the floor, and oxygen masks and fan panels dangling from the ceiling.

A 73-year-old British man died during the incident, likely due to a heart attack, according to Suvarnabhumi airport general manager Kittipong Kittikachorn. The man was traveling with his wife, who has been hospitalized in Bangkok, according to BBC.

Several passengers sustained head injuries. Singapore Airlines stated that 18 people have been hospitalized, with 12 receiving treatment in hospitals.

The turbulence struck as the flight crew was serving breakfast. One passenger, Andrew Davies, described the chaos, recounting how the plane "suddenly dropped," causing passengers to scream and creating a "thud" sound, as reported by BBC.

FlightRadar 24 data indicates that the turbulence occurred before the plane's descent from 37,000 to 31,000 feet, likely as a preparation for landing.

Passenger Dzafran Azmir, a 28-year-old student, told Reuters that those not wearing seatbelts were thrown into the ceiling when the plane dramatically dropped.

The Boeing 777-300ER, carrying 211 passengers and 18 crew members, was en route to Singapore when it diverted to Bangkok.

FlightRadar 24 tracking data confirmed the altitude and speed drop of the aircraft.

In a statement, Singapore Airlines confirmed the fatality and the injuries, noting that flight SQ321 encountered severe turbulence en route to Singapore and landed in Bangkok at 1545hrs local time on May 21, 2024. The airline expressed its condolences to the family of the deceased.

The aircraft involved was a 16-year-old Boeing 777 model, BBC reported.

Singapore's Ministry of Transport has announced that its Transport Safety Investigation Bureau will investigate the incident, as per Reuters.