Ms Khoo said she has not asked the airline about compensation because she has been busy shuttling between two hospitals where her relatives and friends are hospitalised.
SIA assured her that the hospital bills would be covered by the company.Â
“We don’t have to worry. (When) we want to go back, just let them know, they will arrange everything. This is what they have promised us.”
She is unsure how long her family will be in hospital here, and whether they may choose to continue treatment in Malaysia if they can be transferred.
Asked if there is anything else she would want Singapore Airlines to address, Ms Khoo said she was concerned that some of her relatives and friends may not be able to work because of the injuries sustained.
Four of the seven work in the same company, she added.
They may also be affected in the longer term, and may need further treatment. “My brother says he definitely cannot drive,” she said
EUROPE TOUR ENDED WITH HOSPITAL STAY
Mr Khoo and his wife, three of their relatives and one friend set off on a trip to Europe earlier this month.
The first stop was Switzerland, and the tour group they were with also visited Germany, the Netherlands and France.
While the rest of the tour group returned home, the seven of them extended their trip to spend a few days in the United Kingdom.
On Monday in London, they boarded SQ321 to Singapore and were meant to travel on to Penang.
But the SIA flight hit a patch of turbulence that left one passenger dead and many injured, and made an emergency landing in Bangkok.
Mr Khoo’s father-in-law and the latter’s sister were in lavatories when the incident occurred, and suffered neck and spine injuries.
They remain in the ICU, along with one friend who needs surgery to put screws into his neck.
Mr Khoo, who experienced numbness and cannot turn his neck properly, was initially in the ICU but has been transferred to a normal ward.
His wife, who is two months pregnant with their second child, will undergo surgery for her spine on Friday.
Ms Khoo said she only found out about her sister-in-law’s pregnancy on Thursday when they were discussing her treatment options.
“The first doctor, actually, I think the communication is not very good,” she said. “It (sounded like), you have to do the operation, but then you have to give up the baby.”
Her sister-in-law’s emotions are not very stable, said Ms Khoo.
“(She was) scared and worried until she cried.”
Finding out about her pregnancy made Ms Khoo’s family more concerned, but another doctor later explained that while there were risks, her sister-in-law did not need to have an abortion in order to have the surgery.
For now, Ms Khoo said she is happy to be in Bangkok with her family.
“I feel relieved. At least I get to see them, and I know each and every one is okay.”
SINGAPOREAN DISCHARGED FROM ICU
One Singaporean who was in the ICU at Samitivej Srinakarin Hospital has been discharged. As of noon on Friday, a total of 34 patients of other nationalities remained at the hospital.
They include nine Australians, seven from Britain, seven Malaysians and three Filipinos.
Twelve patients remained warded at Samitivej Sukhumvit Hospital and two people – both Singaporeans – are still being treated at Bangkok Hospital.
In an update on Friday evening, SIA said that a total of 61 passengers and two crew members who were on board SQ321 are still in Bangkok, with 46 of them – 44 passengers and the two crew members – receiving medical treatment in hospital.
“Singapore Airlines is in contact with all the passengers and crew members from SQ321 who are still in Bangkok. Where requested, we have facilitated travel to Bangkok for their families and loved ones,” the airline said.
“Customer care representatives, who are staff volunteers trained for such situations, have been assigned to provide updates and the necessary support and assistance to each passenger during this difficult time.
“The well-being of our passengers and staff is our utmost priority.”
Read the full article here
