Australian couple Keith Davis and Kerry Jordan who were badly injured in the turbulent Singapore Airlines flight have returned home from Thailand.
The Adelaide couple had spent some time in a hospital in Bangkok receiving medical treatment after Ms Jordan suffered a spinal injury during the flight.
Ms Jordan is reportedly still without feeling from the waist down and Mr Davis remains bruised and battered.
The pair managed to make it back home this week via an air ambulance flight, with Ms Jordan expected to continue medical treatment in Australia. Mr Davis praised his partner’s strength after the terrifying experience.
“I am humbled by Kerry’s strength and courage to endure such a trial over the last week,” he told Seven News.
“I know this strength and courage will continue to carry us through.”
The Marino residents were returning from a “fantastic holiday” in the UK, which was their first trip there post-Covid.
Two days after the flight, Mr Davis spoke to the Adelaide Advertiser about a lack of communication with Singapore Airlines. The company has since issued an apology to the couple and have dedicated resources to support them.
Mr Davis has asked for people to give Ms Jordan space and time as her long road to recovery continues.
The pair were one of many passengers left injured from Flight SQ321, which was flying from London to Singapore on May 21.
The plane had encountered sudden and severe turbulence as it flew over Myanmar, near the Thailand border.
The turbulence was powerful enough to throw passengers and crew members around the cabin, with some even being slammed into the ceiling.
Out of the 211 passengers and 18 crew members aboard the flight, one 73-year-old man died of a suspected heart attack and dozens were left injured.
The flight was diverted to Bangkok.
Since the incident, preliminary findings from an investigation show a rapid change in the gravitational force, with the sudden 54m altitude drop causing injuries.
According to Thai medical records, the extent of injuries includes spinal cord injuries and some brain and skull injuries.
“The aircraft experienced a rapid change in G (gravitational force) … This likely resulted in the occupants who were not belted up to become airborne,” a statement from the transport ministry said from the Transport Safety Investigation Bureau report.
“The vertical acceleration changed from negative 1.5G to positive 1.5G within four seconds. This likely resulted in the occupants who were airborne to fall back down.”
Singapore Airlines has maintained that it was supporting passengers affected and co-operating with the investigation.
“We are committed to supporting our passengers and crew members who were on board SQ321 on that day, as well as their families and loved ones,” a spokesman said.