SINGAPORE— Singapore Airlines (SIA) flight SQ24 returned to Changi Airport (SIN) on Monday, September 14, after an in-flight medical emergency was reported about four hours after departure. The New York-bound Airbus A350-900 was carrying 144 passengers and 17 crew members when it turned back toward Singapore.
The flight was scheduled to connect Singapore with New York’s John F. Kennedy International Airport (JFK), one of SIA’s ultra-long-haul services. SIA confirmed that a medical emergency occurred onboard but did not disclose the identity or condition of the person involved, citing confidentiality.
Singapore Airlines New York Flight
SQ24 departed Changi Airport at approximately 12:24 p.m. on Monday and initially followed its planned route toward the United States.
Flight-tracking data showed the aircraft turning back after around four hours, while it was over the Philippine Sea near Taiwan.
The A350 subsequently completed the return journey and landed at Changi at about 9:11 p.m.
The aircraft had therefore spent several hours in the air before returning to its departure airport rather than continuing the lengthy trans-Pacific journey to New York.
SIA described the event as an in-flight medical emergency and said it could not provide additional details because of confidentiality considerations.
Pilot Illness Alleged
Reports from people claiming to have been passengers on SQ24 indicated that the medical emergency may have involved the captain.
However, SIA did not confirm that the pilot became unwell, making the reported connection between the medical emergency and the captain an allegation rather than an established fact.
One passenger account on Reddit claimed that a doctor onboard was asked to assist and that medical personnel attended to the captain after the aircraft landed. Aviation-related social media page Water Sound Aviation also described the incident as a pilot medical emergency, although it did not disclose its source.
The available information does not indicate that the aircraft experienced a technical problem. The flight returned to Singapore while the crew dealt with the medical situation onboard.
Flight Resumes Later
After landing, SIA provided affected customers with assistance on the ground, including refreshments, while the aircraft was refuelled. The airline subsequently prepared SQ24 for its onward journey to New York.
The flight departed Singapore again at approximately 11:58 p.m., according to SIA, and was scheduled to reach John F. Kennedy International Airport at about 9:38 a.m. local time.
The incident caused a substantial delay for passengers on one of the world’s longest scheduled commercial routes.
SIA apologised for the inconvenience caused and said it provided the necessary assistance to customers during the disruption.
SQ24 and its return service, SQ23, are operated on the Singapore-New York route using the Airbus A350-900ULR.
The nonstop service covers roughly 15,349 kilometres and is among the world’s longest passenger flights, deciding to return to Singapore significant because of the considerable distance remaining on the planned journey.
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