SINGAPORE- Severe turbulence on a Singapore Airlines (SQ) flight from London Heathrow (LHR) resulted in one fatality and several injuries.
The Singapore-bound Boeing 777-300ER was diverted to Bangkok (BKK), landing at 15:45 local time (08:45 GMT).
Singapore Airlines Flight Turbulence
Flight SQ 321 had 211 passengers and 18 crew members on board, according to a statement from the airline.
“Singapore Airlines offers its deepest condolences to the deceased’s family,” the statement read.
The airline also noted that it is collaborating with Thai authorities to provide medical assistance to passengers and is sending a team to Bangkok to offer additional support.
Thai authorities have dispatched ambulances and emergency teams to Suvarnabhumi Airport.
Singapore’s Transport Minister Chee Hong Tat expressed his condolences and stated that the government would assist the passengers and their families.
“I am deeply saddened to learn about the incident onboard Singapore Airlines flight SQ321 from London Heathrow to Singapore,” he shared on Facebook.
The flight departed from London Heathrow and encountered turbulence about an hour and a half before reaching Singapore. The turbulence occurred at 3:45 pm local time yesterday during severe thunderstorms in and around Thailand.
Heavy rain was forecast for the region yesterday and today, with meteorologists predicting occasional thunderstorms, which can create challenging conditions for aircraft. However, SQ has yet to comment on the reason for the severe turbulence.
The post has received more than 400K views on X and thousands of shares on Facebook. Singapore Airlines will provide more details to keep passengers and their families updated.
Expert Opinion
“Injuries from severe turbulence are relatively rare given the millions of flights operated, but severe turbulence can be dramatic and result in severe injuries or, as in this case, a fatality,” aviation expert John Strickland told the BBC.
Strickland explained that flight crews have the tools to predict turbulence, although some regions are more prone to it. They are also trained to handle turbulence effectively.
“This is why airlines recommend keeping seat belts loosely fastened throughout the flight, whether long or short,” he added.
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The post Singapore Airlines Flight from London with 777 Hit with Severe Turbulence, One Dead appeared first on Aviation A2Z.