SINGAPORE, June 29 — A Singapore Airlines (SIA) flight to Istanbul turned back to Singapore approximately halfway through its journey following the suicide attacks that took place at Ataturk international airport this morning.
SQ392, which departed Changi Airport at 1.35am, was flying above India when it made a u-turn, showed data from FlightRadar24.com.
It is now scheduled to land back at Changi at about 10.50am.
There were 201 passengers and 14 crew onboard the plane, a Boeing 777-200. The flight will leave Singapore again for Istanbul at 12.30pm (Singapore time), and should reach Istanbul at 6pm (Istanbul Time) on Wednesday, said a SIA spokesperson.
At least 36 people have died, and another 147 wounded, after three suicide bombers blew themselves up at the entrance of Istanbul Ataturk Airport at around 2.50am (Singapore time).
The airport was closed for several hours before it re-opened at around 8.30am (Singapore time).
A Turkish Airlines flight, TK54 (codeshare with SQ6266), bound for Singapore from Istanbul, was cancelled in the immediate aftermath of the attack. TK54 was originally scheduled to depart Istanbul at 6.50am (Singapore time).
According to Reuters, Turkish Airlines, which operates a major hub at Istanbul Ataturk Airport, has put affected passengers for all its flights from Istanbul at hotels. — TODAY
