Singapore Airlines Flight Hits Severe Turbulence, Leaving One Dead and Dozens Injured
Singapore Airlines Flight Hits Severe Turbulence, Leaving One Dead and Dozens Injured
Severe turbulence on a Singapore Airlines flight causes one death and multiple injuries, raising concerns over flight safety and turbulence management
A Singapore Airlines flight from London to Singapore experienced severe turbulence on Tuesday, resulting in the death of one passenger and injuries to dozens of others. The Boeing 777-300ER, carrying 211 passengers and 18 crew members, was cruising at an altitude of 37,000 feet over the Indian Ocean when it suddenly dropped around 6,000 feet in about three minutes, forcing an emergency landing in Bangkok.
Passengers Describe Terrifying Experience
Passengers on board the flight described the incident as a sudden and dramatic drop, with one stating that “all hell broke loose.” Andrew Davies, a passenger traveling to New Zealand for business, said that the plane felt like it dropped and that he witnessed shoes, iPads, iPhones, cushions, blankets, cutlery, plates, and cups flying through the air and crashing into the ceiling. Another passenger, 28-year-old student Dzafran Azmir, reported that some passengers who were not wearing seatbelts were thrown into the ceiling, causing damage to overhead panels and lights.
The turbulence occurred as passengers were being served food, about 10 hours into the 13-hour flight. Geoff Kitchen, a 73-year-old British passenger, died during the flight, possibly due to a heart attack. Several other passengers and crew members sustained injuries, ranging from cuts and bruises to broken arms.
Aftermath and Investigation
After the emergency landing in Bangkok, 143 passengers were transported to Singapore on a relief flight, while 79 passengers and 6 crew members remained in Bangkok to receive medical care. The injured passengers included citizens from Australia, Malaysia, the United Kingdom, New Zealand, Spain, the United States, and Ireland.
Singapore Airlines CEO Goh Choon Phong expressed condolences to the family of the deceased passenger and apologized for the traumatic experience endured by those on board. The airline is cooperating with authorities in the investigation of the incident. The Singapore Ministry of Transport and the US National Transportation Safety Board are also involved in the investigation.
Turbulence and Air Travel Safety
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