Bangkok--3 Oct--AOT Taipei , Taiwan — China Airlines announced today that flight CI 641 encountered severe air turbulence on its way from Hong Kong to Bangkok , Thailand. The aircraft arrived in Bangkok safety, but about 21 people were injured, with 5 crewmembers and 16 passengers receiving hospital treatment. The 10-year-old Boeing 747-400 passenger aircraft, registration number B-18202 , departed from Hong Kong at 11.50 am with 147 passengers and 18 crew members aboard. The incident occurred without warning at 1.59 pm over Thai airspace reroute from Hong Kong to Bangkok. As soon as the flight arrived in Bangkok at 2.23 pm the aircraft underwent through turbulence inspection. It will fly back Taipei as soon as the inspector is completed and it is confirmed that the aircraft is unharmed. China Airlines has successfully transferred passengers who were booked on the return flight from Bangkok to Hong Kong , to other carriers. For more information please contact . Bruce Chen / Jeffrey Kuo/ Annie Huang Echo Kang Tel 02-514-5760, 5611. 5751 Fax : 02-514-5754 Http:// www.china-airlines.com Corporate Communications Office Airports of Thailand Co.,Ltd. (AOT)