- Flight Details: Singapore Airlines flight SQ321 from London to Singapore.
- Aircraft: Boeing 777-300ER.
- Total Passenger and Crew : 211 passengers and 18 crew members.
A Singapore Airlines flight from London to Singapore encountered severe turbulence (rapid and unpredictable changes in altitude and airspeed), resulting in death of one passenger and 30 passengers injuried. The plane made an emergency landing at Bangkok's Suvarnabhumi International Airport at 3:45 PM local time.
Casualties and Injuries
- Fatality: One passenger died.
- Injuries: 30 passengers injured.
- Hospitalized: 18 individuals.
- Treated at Airport: 12 individuals.
- Medical Response: Emergency crews from Samitivej Srinakarin Hospital provided assistance.
Airline's Response
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.
— Singapore Airlines (@SingaporeAir) May 21, 2024
We can confirm that there are injuries and one fatality on…
Singapore Airlines confirmed the incident and the casualty.
- Working with Thai authorities to provide medical assistance.
- Sent a team to Bangkok to support passengers and crew.
Details of the Incident
- The flight was cruising at 37,000 feet.
- Suddenly dropped to 31,000 feet over three minutes.
- Maintained 31,000 feet for ten minutes before descending to land.
Update 1: https://t.co/IDCQw2TId0
— Singapore Airlines (@SingaporeAir) May 21, 2024
Historical Context
- Last fatality on a Singapore Airlines flight occurred in October 2000 in Taiwan, resulting in 83 deaths.
- Singapore Airlines has had seven accidents to date according to the Aviation Safety Network.
Expert Insights
- Seatbelt Usage: Injuries often occur when passengers are not wearing seatbelts during unexpected turbulence.
- Weather Radar: Pilots may not always get advanced warning from weather radars about turbulence.
Additional Information
- Emergency Response: Videos on LINE messaging platform showed ambulances arriving at the scene.
- Flight Tracking: Data from FlightRadar24 showed the altitude changes during the incident.
Such type of tragic incident highlights the importance of wearing seatbelts at all times during a flight and the challenges pilots face with sudden weather changes. Singapore Airlines is taking steps to assist affected passengers and their families while investigating the causes of the severe turbulence.