In an extremely rare and tragic incident, a passenger has been killed and 30 others injured due to severe turbulence on a Singapore Airlines flight from London to Singapore. The airline confirmed the fatality and injuries in a statement following the incident.
Emergency landing in Bangkok
Flight SQ321, which departed from Heathrow Airport on Monday, experienced severe turbulence during its journey to Singapore. The Boeing 777-300 ER, carrying 211 passengers and 18 crew members, was diverted to Bangkok’s Suvarnabhumi International Airport, where it landed at 3:45 pm local time on Tuesday.
Singapore Airlines expressed its condolences to the family of the deceased passenger, stating, “We can confirm that there are injuries and one fatality on board the Boeing. Our priority is to provide all possible assistance to all passengers and crew on board the aircraft. We are working with the local authorities in Thailand to provide the necessary medical assistance and are sending a team to Bangkok to provide any additional assistance needed.”
Aviation experts note that such injuries typically occur when passengers are not wearing seatbelts and the pilot is unable to provide advance warning due to unexpected turbulence not indicated by weather radar. In these situations, passengers can be thrown around the cabin, leading to serious injuries.
Similar incidents
This incident follows another severe turbulence event in May of last year, where several passengers were injured on an Air India flight from Delhi to Sydney.
The tragic death and multiple injuries on flight SQ321 highlight the unpredictable nature of turbulence and the critical importance of wearing seatbelts at all times while seated. Singapore Airlines is currently cooperating with Thai authorities to assist the affected passengers and crew.