Singapore Airlines announced on Friday that it has implemented stricter seatbelt regulations following a fatal incident where severe turbulence led to the death of one passenger and injuries to over 100 others.
Passengers and crew on flight SQ321 experienced traumatic injuries to the skull, brain, and spine as they were violently tossed around the cabin during Tuesday’s terrifying high-altitude event.
The London-Singapore flight, carrying 211 passengers and 18 crew members, had to make an emergency landing in Bangkok, where 48 people remain hospitalized. Flight tracking data indicates that the Boeing 777-300ER dropped 1,800 meters within minutes, leaving many passengers without enough time to fasten their seatbelts.
Singapore Airlines stated it has adopted a “more cautious approach” to handling turbulence
In response, Singapore Airlines stated it has adopted a “more cautious approach” to handling turbulence. “In addition to the suspension of hot beverage service when the seat belt sign is on, the meal service will also be suspended,” the airline stated in a release to AFP.
“SIA will continue to review our processes as the safety of our passengers and crew is of utmost importance.” Investigators from Singapore and the United States have traveled to Thailand to investigate the causes of Tuesday’s deadly incident. However, air safety experts told AFP that passengers often underestimate the importance of wearing seatbelts, increasing their risk during unexpected turbulence.
Scientists also caution that clear air turbulence, invisible to radar, is worsening due to climate change. The director of Bangkok’s Samitivej Srinakarin Hospital, where most of the injured were treated, mentioned that his staff had never encountered such severe turbulence-related injuries before.
Australian passenger Keith Davis recounted the ordeal, which left his wife Kerry with a severe spinal injury and loss of feeling below the waist. “It was absolute carnage, instantly. It was absolutely surreal. You know, there’s no warning,” he told Australian broadcaster Channel 9. “Before we knew it we were on the ceiling. And then bang, we’re on the ground. And you don’t know what is going on. And you’ve literally fallen 6,000 feet (1,829 meters).” Davis said his wife struck the overhead luggage compartments before falling to the floor of the aisle, remaining immobile for the rest of the flight.
Upon landing at Bangkok’s Suvarnabhumi Airport, emergency responders met the plane and used gurneys to transport the injured to ambulances waiting on the tarmac. Photos taken inside the aircraft after landing in Bangkok depict a chaotic cabin filled with scattered food, drinks, and luggage, with oxygen masks hanging from the ceiling. Singapore Airlines’ chief executive, Goh Choon Phong, apologized for the “traumatic experience” and expressed condolences to the family of the deceased — a 73-year-old British man.