A Singapore Airlines (SIA) flight en route to Istanbul, turned back to Singapore after the Istanbul Ataturk international airport was hit by suicide bombings, Channel News Asia reported today.

Citing flight tracking website FlightRadar24, the report said flight SQ392, which departed from Changi Airport's Terminal 3 at 2.01am today, was scheduled to arrive in Istanbul at around 7.45am (Istanbul time).

An SIA spokesperson confirmed that the flight turned back due to the closure of the Istanbul Ataturk airport.

The aircraft is expected to arrive in Singapore at 10.50am, the spokesperson was quoted as saying.

There were 201 passengers and 14 crew on board the flight, a Boeing 777-200.

The report said the flight has been rescheduled for departure to Istanbul at 12.30pm and is expected to arrive at Ataturk airport at 6pm (Istanbul time).

The terrorist attack on Istanbul's Ataturk airport yesterday killed 36 people and injured close to 150.

- Bernama