Singapore Airlines is investigating a serious incident that occurred on a flight from London to Singapore. The plane encountered severe turbulence, resulting in injuries to passengers and a tragic death. The investigation will focus on weather patterns, pilot actions, and adherence to safety protocols during turbulence.
A Singapore Airlines flight from London to Singapore hit severe turbulence over the Andaman Sea on Tuesday, injuring over 100 passengers and crew. Twenty of the injured are still in intensive care, with many needing spinal surgeries. Sadly, a 73-year-old British man died, possibly from a heart attack.
The Boeing 777 experienced a sudden drop of 6,000 feet in three minutes. Passengers described the experience as terrifying, with people being thrown from their seats, loose items flying around, and many lying injured on the floor.
Samitivej Srinakarin Hospital in Bangkok, which is treating the majority of the injured, stated that they have called in top specialists from other hospitals for assistance. A hospital representative described the scene as chaotic, with blood on the floor and people unable to move due to injuries.
Passenger Amelia Lim, a 43-year-old Malaysian, shared her harrowing experience, saying, “I was so afraid … I could see so many individuals on the floor, they were all bleeding.”
Dzafram Azmir, a 28-year-old student from Malaysia, credited his seatbelt for his safety. He described the horror as people who weren’t buckled in were thrown around the cabin, hitting the ceiling before crashing back down.
Medical Assistance To All Injured Passengers
The turbulence occurred around mealtime, catching everyone off guard. Emergency medics treated passengers at Bangkok’s Suvarnabhumi Airport after the flight was diverted there.
The injured in ICU include six Britons, six Malaysians, three Australians, two Singaporeans, and one person each from Hong Kong, New Zealand, and the Philippines. The British man who died had CPR performed on him for about 20 minutes, but it was unsuccessful.
Turbulence, especially clear air turbulence, can happen without warning and is often more dangerous. It’s caused by differences in temperature and pressure creating fast-moving air currents. Between 2009 and 2018, turbulence was responsible for 37.6% of all accidents on larger commercial airlines.
Anita Mendiratta, a tourism and aviation expert, emphasized the importance of always wearing seatbelts and safely stowing hand baggage. She warned that climate change could lead to more severe turbulence in the future.
For now, passengers are urged to follow safety instructions to minimize risks during flights.
