Singapore – A Singapore Airlines flight traveling from London to Singapore encountered severe turbulence on Tuesday, leading to the tragic death of one passenger and injuries to 30 others. The incident forced an emergency landing in Bangkok, according to officials from the airline. Singapore Airlines has expressed its deepest condolences to the family of the deceased passenger and has apologized for the distressing experience that passengers and crew members had to endure. The airline is currently working alongside Thai authorities to provide the necessary support.
The director of Bangkok’s Suvarnabhumi Airport, Kittipong Kittikachorn, confirmed that the deceased passenger was a male. The airline’s statement indicated that 18 of the injured individuals have been admitted to hospitals, while the remaining 12 are receiving treatment.
Precise details surrounding the incident are still being investigated, as the available tracking data is currently under analysis. Preliminary information from FlightRadar 24 suggests that the plane encountered a sudden upward tilt, followed by a swift return to cruising altitude within a minute, around 07:49 GMT.
Passengers aboard the flight have provided harrowing accounts of the terrifying ordeal. They described a sudden upward tilt of the aircraft, followed by a dramatic drop. Individuals who were not wearing seatbelts were thrown into the ceiling, some of them hitting their heads on overhead baggage compartments, resulting in significant injuries.
A spokesperson for FlightRadar 24 suggested that the turbulence likely occurred prior to the standard descent from 37,000 to 31,000 feet, which is a routine procedure as the plane prepares for landing.
The Boeing 777-300ER aircraft, carrying 211 passengers and 18 crew members, was en route to Singapore when the emergency landing became necessary. Images shared by Singapore news outlet CNA depicted a chaotic scene inside the aircraft, with passengers gripping their seats, oxygen masks hanging down, and personal belongings scattered throughout the aisle.
The plane requested an emergency landing at Suvarnabhumi Airport at 3:35 pm local time and touched down at 3:51 pm, although the airline reported the landing time as 3:45 pm. Uninjured passengers disembarked and were accommodated on another aircraft to continue their journey.
Turbulence-related accidents have been found to be the most prevalent type of airline accidents, according to a 2021 study by the National Transportation Safety Board. These incidents accounted for over a third of reported accidents from 2009 through 2018. While most of these incidents resulted in serious injuries, no aircraft damage was reported..