Horror Onboard Singapore Airlines Hit By Turbulence, One Killed
A 73-year-old British man died and over 30 others were injured when a Singapore Airlines flight from London to Singapore encountered severe turbulence. The Boeing 777-300ER, carrying 211 passengers and 18 crew members, was forced to make an emergency landing in Bangkok at 15:45 local time (08:45 GMT).
Passengers described a terrifying experience as the aircraft suddenly dropped, causing people and objects to be violently thrown around the cabin. One passenger, Andrew from London, recounted to BBC Radio 5 Live that during the few seconds of the plane dropping, there were screams and a loud thud, leaving him covered in coffee and assisting a woman with a head injury.
The turbulence occurred while the cabin crew was serving breakfast, according to Suvarnabhumi Airport”s General Manager, Kittipong Kittikachorn. The sudden drop injured many passengers who were not wearing seatbelts. Among those injured, seven suffered critical head injuries.
Singapore Airlines confirmed the fatality and expressed condolences to the family of the deceased. The airline also stated that 31 people were taken to the hospital, while the remaining passengers and crew received medical assessments at Suvarnabhumi International Airport. The airline has sent a team to Bangkok to provide additional support.
Passengers recounted the chaos, with Dzafran Azmir, a 28-year-old student, describing how the plane tilted and then dropped dramatically, causing those not strapped in to be thrown into the ceiling and overhead compartments.
Authorities in Bangkok believe the British man likely suffered a heart attack during the turbulence. His wife has been hospitalized, though her condition remains unknown.
Grim footage from the Singapore Airlines Boeing 777 flight from London to SG. Passengers were flung to the ceiling when it experienced a 7,000 ft drop. pic.twitter.com/iqsefWFELG
— Ian Miles Cheong (@stillgray) May 21, 2024
Singapore”s Transport Minister Chee Hong Tat expressed his condolences and assured that the government would assist the affected passengers and their families. Experts highlighted that while severe turbulence injuries are rare, the incident underscores the importance of keeping seatbelts fastened during flights.
This tragic event, reminiscent of a similar turbulence incident on a Delhi-Sydney flight last year, raises concerns about the increasing likelihood of severe turbulence due to climate change, as noted by aviation experts.
Here is the official statement from Singapore Airlines:
Singapore Airlines flight SQ321, operating from London (Heathrow) to Singapore on 20 May 2024, encountered severe turbulence en-route. The aircraft diverted to Bangkok and landed at 1545hrs local time on 21 May 2024.
We can confirm that there are injuries and one fatality on board the Boeing 777-300ER. There were a total of 211 passengers and 18 crew on board.
Singapore Airlines offers its deepest condolences to the family of the deceased.
Our priority is to provide all possible assistance to all passengers and crew on board the aircraft. We are working with the local authorities in Thailand to provide the necessary medical assistance, and sending a team to Bangkok to provide any additional assistance needed.
