In an unfortunate and rare incident, a passenger was killed and 30 others sustained injuries due to severe turbulence on a Singapore Airlines flight from London to Singapore.
The airline confirmed the incident in a statement regarding flight SQ321, which departed from Heathrow Airport on Monday and was enroute to Singapore when it encountered severe turbulence.
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
The aircraft, a Boeing 777-300 ER, was diverted to Bangkok’s Suvarnabhumi International Airport, where it landed at 3:45 pm local time on Tuesday.
The flight had 211 passengers and 18 crew members on board. Singapore Airlines expressed its condolences to the family of the deceased passenger and assured that their priority is to provide all possible assistance to the affected passengers and crew.
“We can confirm that there are injuries and one fatality on board the Boeing… 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 are sending a team to Bangkok to provide any additional assistance needed,” the airline stated.
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Experts indicate that such injuries typically occur when passengers are not wearing seatbelts and when the pilot is unable to give an advanced warning of turbulence, as it may not be indicated by the weather radar. In these situations, passengers can be violently thrown around inside the cabin, leading to injuries.
This incident brings to light the importance of adhering to safety measures on flights, especially wearing seatbelts when seated. Similar turbulence incidents have been reported before; for instance, in May of the previous year, several passengers were injured on an Air India flight from Delhi to Sydney due to turbulence.
Singapore Airlines has reiterated its commitment to ensuring the safety and well-being of its passengers and crew, emphasizing that they are collaborating with local authorities in Thailand to manage the situation and provide necessary support. The airline is also dispatching a team to Bangkok to offer additional assistance to those affected by this tragic event.
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