Airplane Accident
One Dead and Many Injured Due to Severe Turbulence in Singapore Airlines Flight
A Singapore Airlines flight from London to Singapore encountered severe turbulence on Tuesday, resulting in the death of one passenger and injuries to several others. The Boeing 777-300ER, operating as Flight SQ321, was forced to make an emergency landing in Bangkok, Thailand, after the unexpected and violent turbulence struck mid-flight.
The aircraft, carrying 211 passengers and 18 crew members, departed from London Heathrow Airport on Monday night. The flight was proceeding smoothly until it encountered severe turbulence over Myanmar, approximately 11 hours into the journey. The turbulence was so intense that it caused the plane to plummet from an altitude of 37,000 feet to 31,000 feet within a span of five minutes.
Passengers described the harrowing experience as a sudden and dramatic drop that sent those not wearing seatbelts hurtling towards the cabin ceiling. Dzafran Azmir, a 28-year-old student aboard the flight, recounted, "Suddenly, the aircraft starts tilting up, and there was shaking. I began bracing myself for what was happening. Then, very suddenly, there was a very dramatic drop. Everyone seated and not wearing a seatbelt was immediately launched into the ceiling."
The turbulence caused significant damage to the cabin, with passengers colliding with overhead baggage compartments, damaging lights and oxygen masks. Eyewitnesses reported seeing loose items scattered across the cabin floor, and some passengers were thrown against the ceiling, resulting in injuries. The most severely injured were reportedly those who were standing or in the lavatories at the time of the turbulence.
Tragically, a 73-year-old British man, identified as Geoffrey Kitchen, suffered a suspected heart attack during the turbulence and could not be saved. His wife was traveling with him at the time. The exact number of injured passengers remains unclear, but reports indicate that at least 30 individuals sustained injuries, with 18 requiring hospitalization.
Upon landing at Bangkok's Suvarnabhumi Airport at approximately 3:45 p.m. local time, emergency medical teams were immediately deployed to attend to the injured passengers. Videos posted on social media showed ambulances lined up on the tarmac, and medical personnel were seen carrying injured passengers out on stretchers. The injured were transported to local hospitals for further treatment.
Singapore Airlines issued a statement expressing their deepest condolences to the family of the deceased passenger and pledging to offer assistance to all those affected. "Our priority is to provide all possible assistance to all passengers and crew on board the aircraft," the airline stated. "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."
The airline also thanked the Thai authorities and emergency services for their prompt response and assistance in managing the situation. Singapore Airlines assured passengers that their safety remains its top priority and that they will keep them updated on the situation as more information becomes available.
The cause of the turbulence is currently under investigation. Severe turbulence incidents, particularly those resulting in fatalities, are rare, especially at cruising altitudes. However, turbulence-related accidents are the most frequent type of airline accidents, according to a 2021 study by the National Transportation Safety Board. Between 2009 and 2018, turbulence accounted for over a third of all airline accidents, often resulting in serious injuries but rarely causing aircraft damage.
This incident has prompted a renewed focus on the importance of wearing seatbelts during flights, even when the seatbelt sign is off. Airlines routinely advise passengers to keep their seatbelts fastened due to the potential for unexpected turbulence.
Singapore Airlines, known for its exemplary safety record, has experienced few major incidents in recent years. The last accident resulting in casualties occurred on October 31, 2000, when a flight from Singapore to Los Angeles via Taipei crashed into construction equipment on the Taiwan Taoyuan International Airport runway, claiming the lives of 83 of the 179 people on board.
As the investigation into the cause of the turbulence continues, Singapore Airlines remains committed to ensuring the well-being of its passengers and crew. The airline has dispatched a team to Bangkok to provide additional support and is working closely with local authorities to assist those affected by this tragic incident.