British Man Dies, Dozens Injured as Singapore Airlines Flight Hit by Severe Turbulence

A British man has lost his life and dozens injured after Singapore Airlines Flight SQ321 from London Heathrow to Singapore was struck by severe turbulence, leading to an emergency landing in Bangkok, Thailand.

The turbulence occurred as the flight, carrying 211 passengers and 18 crew members, flew over Myanmar.

The incident happened approximately 10 hours into the flight, shortly after 9 am UK time on Tuesday. The aircraft encountered sudden extreme turbulence at 37,000 feet, causing it to drop by around 6,000 feet in just three minutes.

The turbulence left many passengers uncomfortable and led to significant injuries. The plane diverted to Bangkok’s Suvarnabhumi Airport, landing safely around 9:45 am UK time.

Among the passengers was a 73-year-old British man who suffered a cardiac arrest during the turbulence and was pronounced dead after the plane landed. The man, who had a pre-existing heart condition, was travelling with his wife, who was taken to a local hospital.

In total, 53 passengers were injured, seven critically. The injuries ranged from head lacerations to bleeding ears, with several passengers suffering broken teeth and other traumas from being hurled against the aircraft’s interior.

A passenger, Andrew Davies from Lewisham, who was on the flight, described the terrifying experience: “The plane just dropped, and those not wearing seatbelts were thrown into the ceiling. It was chaos, with blood and belongings scattered everywhere.”

He also praised the flight crew for their efforts to manage the situation and provide immediate assistance despite their injuries.

Emergency response teams in Bangkok were prepared upon the plane’s arrival, with rows of ambulances lined up on the tarmac. Videos and photos from the scene depicted the extent of the chaos, including blood on the ceiling and oxygen masks deployed throughout the cabin.

Singapore Airlines has expressed deep condolences to the family of the deceased and apologised for the traumatic experience endured by passengers and crew.

The airline has set up a hotline to support relatives and works with local authorities in Thailand to assist affected passengers.

This tragic incident is a reminder of the potential dangers of severe turbulence, even though such occurrences are relatively rare.

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…

— Singapore Airlines (@SingaporeAir) May 21, 2024

John Strickland, a general aviation expert, noted that while crews are trained to predict and respond to turbulence, the sudden and extreme nature of such events can still lead to significant injuries and, in this case, a fatality.

Singapore Airlines last experienced fatalities in October 2000, when a flight crashed during takeoff in Taiwan, resulting in 83 deaths.

This recent incident shows the unpredictable nature of air travel and the importance of safety measures such as seatbelt use during flights.

The airline and Boeing, the aircraft manufacturer, have pledged full cooperation with ongoing investigations into the incident.

Meanwhile, Singapore’s Transport Minister Chee Hong Tat has assured the government will support those affected by the turbulence.

 Source: Standard UK

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