On Tuesday, a Singapore Airlines flight from London to Singapore experienced significant turbulence, resulting in the unfortunate loss of one passenger’s life and causing injuries to 71 individuals. The turbulence caused passengers and crew members to be thrown around the cabin, necessitating an emergency landing in Bangkok.
According to Kittipong Kittikachorn, the director of Bangkok’s airport, the individual passed away while on the flight. However, no specific name or cause of death was provided. The man’s wife sustained injuries and was promptly transported to a hospital, according to Mr. Kittipong.
The individual in question was subsequently identified as Geoff Kitchen, who was characterised as “consistently displaying professionalism with the highest level of honesty and integrity” by the Thornbury Musical Theatre Group (TMTG), an organisation with which he had been employed for more than three decades.
One of the passengers on flight SQ321, Andrew Davies, who was flying to New Zealand for business, informed CNN’s Erin Burnett that the incident occurred after the seatbelt sign was activated, resulting in a chaotic turn of events.
The aircraft experienced a sensation akin to a descent. I have a distinct recollection of witnessing various items, such as shoes, iPads, iPhones, cushions, blankets, cutlery, plates, and cups, being propelled through the air and subsequently colliding with the ceiling. The individual seated beside me held a cup of coffee, which inadvertently splattered onto my person and extended towards the ceiling,” Davies remarked.
Davies expressed his awareness of the intense turbulence upon turning around, recounting the sight of multiple passengers with head injuries, including one with blood streaming down her face, as well as an elderly passenger experiencing severe shock.
“There was a lot of screaming and shouting,” he remarked.
Video and images captured from within the aircraft depicted the magnitude of the damage, revealing the presence of shattered overhead compartments and the suspension of emergency oxygen air masks from the ceiling. A photograph of a galley depicted a section of the ceiling that was partially exposed, revealing portions of the aircraft’s interior hanging down. Various items, such as trays, containers, plastic bottles, and hot beverage pots, are observed scattered throughout the floor.
According to a hospital in Bangkok, a total of 71 individuals, encompassing both passengers and crew members, sustained injuries. According to the hospital, Samitivej Srinakarin, out of the 71 individuals from the flight who were receiving medical treatment within its network, six sustained serious injuries. Four individuals who sustained injuries were identified as British, while three individuals were from Malaysia, two each from New Zealand and the United States, and one each from Ireland and Spain. The nationalities of the other victims remained undisclosed.
According to the airline, the remaining passengers and crew members underwent examination and treatment at Suvarnabhumi Airport in Bangkok. The Ministry of Transport in Singapore has announced that it is currently investigating the incident and intends to dispatch investigators to Bangkok. Additionally, the National Transportation Safety Board in the United States has expressed its intention to send a representative and four technical advisers to provide assistance. The Prime Minister of Thailand has expressed his government’s commitment to providing comprehensive assistance to those who have sustained injuries.
The aircraft, SQ321, departed from Heathrow Airport at 10:38 p.m. local time on Monday, carrying a total of 211 passengers and 18 crew members. The airline reported experiencing turbulence over the Irrawaddy Basin in Myanmar, specifically at an altitude of 37,000 feet. According to the data available on Flight Radar 24, a website that aggregates public flight information, it appears that approximately 10 hours later, the flight’s altitude decreased from 37,000 feet to approximately 31,000 feet within a few minutes.
The underlying cause of the episode remains ambiguous. During the course of the aircraft’s journey across Myanmar, satellite data indicated the emergence of a robust storm system that was gradually advancing towards higher altitudes. This observation implies a growing instability in the atmospheric conditions within the region. Additionally, the aircraft was advancing towards other storms that were forming along the coastline of Myanmar.
Turbulence occurs frequently
Approximately 65,000 aircraft experience moderate turbulence annually in the United States, while approximately 5,500 encounter severe turbulence. According to a professor of atmospheric science at the University of Reading in the UK, it is possible that these numbers are destined to increase as the climate crisis continues to alter turbulence.
According to a study conducted in September 2022, it is projected that clear-air turbulence will experience a substantial increase worldwide by 2050–2080. This increase is expected to be particularly pronounced along the most heavily travelled flight routes, with the strongest form of turbulence being the most pronounced.
In March 2023, a series of violent movements occurred on a private jet, leading to the unfortunate demise of a former White House official. However, subsequent investigations determined that weather conditions were not a contributing factor in this incident. The aforementioned incident occurred shortly after seven individuals were transported to medical facilities following a separate commercial flight that encountered substantial turbulence.
During July 2023, a Hawaiian Airlines flight to Sydney, Australia, experienced severe turbulence, resulting in injuries to seven individuals. Similarly, in December 2022, a Hawaiian Airlines flight from Arizona to Honolulu caused injuries to 36 individuals, with 20 individuals being transported to emergency rooms.
Singapore Airlines is widely regarded as one of the most secure global airlines.
The sole previous fatal accident occurred in October 2000 when flight SQ006 experienced a crash while the Boeing 747-400 aircraft was taking off from a closed runway in Taiwan, resulting in the unfortunate loss of 83 lives on board.
On Tuesday, Singapore Airlines announced that a specialised team had arrived in Bangkok to provide assistance to their colleagues and local authorities on the ground. This update was shared on the airline’s official Facebook page.
The airline extends its sincerest condolences to the grieving family of the departed. We extend our sincerest apologies for the distressing ordeal that our passengers and crew members endured during this flight.
Boeing has indicated that it is currently in communication with the Singaporean carrier and is prepared to provide assistance. The manufacturer intends to withhold additional inquiries from the airline and local authorities.
Source : CNN news and New York Times
