FLIGHT SQ 006, 31 October 2000,TAIPEI-LOS ANGELES

Eleven SQ006 passengers were released from hospital in Taiwan overnight, reducing the number of passengers hospitalised to 40.

Fifty-nine survivors, including those who required only outpatient treatment and those now released from hospital, have either returned to their homes, are preparing to, or are continuing on their travels. There are 79 confirmed fatalities. The whereabouts of one passenger has yet to be determined.

Identification of Taiwanese passengers has started. The identification of non-Taiwanese passengers starts this morning. Names of passengers and crew members who have been identified will be released progressively.

Singapore Airlines’ Deputy Chairman and Chief Executive Officer, Dr Cheong Choong Kong arrived at Taipei’s Chiang Kai Shek Airport at around midnight last night and immediately spoke with family members and paid his respects to the deceased at a temporary mortuary set up at the airport. He then held a press briefing. This morning, Dr Cheong will be visiting passengers in hospital and spending time with affected family members.

Meanwhile, by 0900 hours today Singapore Airlines had more than 150 support staff based near the site of the tragic event. Some are there to assist in the investigations, but the majority are specially trained to support family members and passengers through such difficult situations. Known as “buddies”, these staff are assigned to a family and take care of all the family’s needs, liaise with the Airline and help to make arrangements on the family’s behalf.

By this morning, next of kin of more than 70 per cent of the passengers on the flight had been contacted and more than 90 had gathered at the Singapore Airlines’ base at Chiang Kai Shek Hotel next to the airport in Taipei.

These next-of-kin will soon be joined by another 70 family members from the US, who are enroute from Los Angeles to Taipei, and around 25 from other countries who are travelling to Taipei via Singapore.

Staff at the Singapore Airlines’ head office at Singapore Changi Airport will today observe one minute of silence and company flags will be flown at half-mast at SIA offices worldwide as a mark of respect to those who lost their lives.

SIA is immediately providing US$5000 to those on the flight to assist with their expenses. Where the passenger has died, the Airline will provide US$25,000 as immediate relief to the next of kin.