Malaysian ambassador to Thailand Jojie Samuel said he had been informed that although their condition is not life-threatening, the passengers have to remain in the ICU due to their head and back injuries.

“The three in the ICU are conscious and can talk. The other six Malaysians also warded due to dizziness and minor injuries are in stable condition and under surveillance by doctors, too,” he said when contacted here today.

According to him, the Malaysian victims being treated are aged between 31 and 65, with six at Samitivej Srinakarin Hospital and three at Samitivej Sukhumvit Hospital.

SIA flight SQ321 was travelling from London to Singapore with 211 passengers and 18 crew members when it encountered sudden extreme turbulence over the Irrawaddy Basin at an altitude of 37,000ft, about 10 hours after departure.

The pilot declared a medical emergency and diverted the Boeing 777-300ER aircraft to Bangkok, landing at 3.45pm local time on Tuesday.

The incident caused one death and multiple injuries. Suvarnabhumi Airport director Kittipong Kittikachorn yesterday said the only fatality in the incident was a 73-year-old British man.

Earlier, Suvarnabhumi Airport police station deputy superintendent Weerasak Muangsuwan said in a statement that Thai police had sent the body to the Chakri Naruebodindra Medical Institute’s forensic department for an autopsy.

“No one has come forward yet to claim the body as the deceased’s wife is also injured and still receiving treatment,” he said.

Trichada Sritada, the political spokesman for the Thai public health ministry, said following the incident, a total of 41 people were treated at Samitivej Srinakarin Hospital, 14 at Samitivej Sukhumvit Hospital and two at Bangkok Hospital.