A Singapore Airlines flight from London to Singapore encountered severe turbulence, resulting in one death and at least 71 injuries. Turbulence occurs when planes encounter differing air speeds, sometimes causing severe cabin movement and injuries.
A Singapore Airlines flight from London to Singapore encountered severe turbulence, resulting in one death and at least 71 injuries. The Boeing 777-300ER diverted to Bangkok, carrying 211 passengers and 18 crew members. Initially, the airline reported 30 injuries, with affected passengers receiving treatment at hospitals and the airport.
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The deceased was a 73-year-old British man, confirmed by Kittipong Kittikachorn, General Manager of Bangkok’s Suvarnabhumi International Airport. The flight landed at 3:45 p.m. local time on Tuesday. Kittikachorn, informed of the emergency 10 minutes prior to landing, noted that while some passengers had broken arms, most suffered cuts and bruises. Several injured were sent to Samitivej Srinakarin Hospital.
The hospital reported injuries among citizens from Malaysia, the UK, New Zealand, Spain, the US, and Ireland, with six severely injured. FlightRadar24 data indicated that turbulence hit over Myanmar at approximately 7:49 a.m. UTC.
The plane experienced significant altitude changes due to sudden turbulence over the Irrawaddy Basin at 37,000 feet, about 10 hours into the flight. The turbulence event lasted about 90 seconds, causing the pilot to declare a medical emergency and divert to Bangkok.
Singapore President Tharman Shanmugaratnam and Transport Minister Chee Hong Tat expressed condolences and stated that government ministries, agencies, and Singapore Airlines were providing support. The Ministry of Transport is investigating, with its Transport Safety Investigation Bureau in contact with Thai authorities.
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Turbulence occurs when planes encounter differing air speeds, sometimes causing severe cabin movement and injuries. Recent incidents of turbulence have led to injuries and fatalities, highlighting the increasing frequency of such events. A study predicts significant increases in clear-air turbulence by 2050-2080, especially along busy flight routes.
Singapore Airlines, known for its safety, experienced its only previous fatal accident in October 2000 when flight SQ006 crashed in Taiwan. Boeing is cooperating with Singapore Airlines and local authorities regarding this latest incident.