Minister for Transport and Second Minister for Finance Chee Hong Tat’s Media Soundbite on Transport Safety Investigation Bureau’s Investigation in Singapore Airlines SQ321 Incident

1.     Let me start by offering my deepest condolences to the family of the deceased.

2.     We are also very relieved that passengers who were injured during the incident are recovering. Some of them have already been discharged from the hospital and returned home. We pray for the speedy recovery of the rest; we hope that they are able to return home to their families and their loved ones as soon as possible.

3.     Investigations by the Transport Safety Investigation Bureau (TSIB) Singapore are still ongoing. We have a team that went to Bangkok and they have obtained the data from the cockpit voice recorder and flight data recorder. They are going through the data from these two recorders now to be able to ascertain what happened during those moments. So, we await investigation findings to understand what happened during that time.

4.     I also want to commend our crew for their dedicated service and professionalism. As several passengers have pointed out, despite the crew members themselves getting injured in the process, they continued to look after the passengers and helped the passengers. So, (we are) truly appreciative and grateful to all crew members for their dedication and professionalism. 

5.     I must also thank our friends from Thailand – the Thai authorities, doctors and nurses from the hospitals – for their help in evacuating the affected passengers and crew, giving them medical treatment, and facilitating their return home.

6.     We will continue to provide whatever support and assistance as necessary, working closely with SIA and the Thai authorities to bring the passengers and crew home as soon as possible.

7.     Thank you very much.