JakartaHerald.com - The Singapore Airlines SQ321 flight experienced severe turbulence on its journey from London, England to Singapore. Here is the chronology, causes, and casualties of the Singapore Airlines turbulence incident.
As a result of the fatal turbulence, one person tragically lost their life and dozens were injured. The pilot made an emergency landing at Suvarnabhumi Airport in Bangkok, Thailand.
10 Facts about the Fatal Turbulence of Singapore Airlines SQ321:
1. Chronology
The Singapore Airlines SQ321 flight from London to Singapore suddenly experienced severe turbulence while cabin crew were serving breakfast before the turbulence hit.
The oxygen masks automatically dropped in front of passengers, causing a moment of shock throughout the aircraft.
The pilot requested an emergency landing, as stated by General Manager (GM) of Suvarnabhumi Airport in Bangkok, Kittipong Kittikachorn, as reported by Reuters on Wednesday (22/5/2024).
The turbulence occurred suddenly above the Irrawaddy Basin over Myanmar approximately 10 hours into the flight. The pilot declared a medical emergency and diverted the aircraft to Bangkok.
2. Causes
Turbulence occurs when an aircraft becomes trapped in sudden changes in airflow, which can cause the plane to shake or jolt.
Shantanu Gangakhedkar, a senior aviation consultant at market research company Frost and Sullivan, told Channel News Asia that turbulence can be caused by various factors such as storms, clouds, jet streams, and more.
The most difficult type of disturbance to predict is clear air turbulence (CAT), which can occur without visible evidence.
The vertical speed of Singapore Airlines SQ321, i.e., the rate at which the aircraft ascends or descends, rapidly jumped to 1,664 feet per minute before plummeting to -1,536 feet per minute within three seconds.
3. Casualties
A 73-year-old passenger from the UK tragically lost their life as a result of the turbulence on Singapore Airlines.
Kittipong Kittikachorn of Suvarnabhumi Airport in Bangkok stated that the passenger likely passed away due to a heart attack.
4. Injuries
Singapore Airlines reported that several passengers and dozens of cabin crew members sustained injuries and are currently being treated in hospitals in Bangkok.
5. Boeing's Response
Boeing stated that they had been in contact with Singapore Airlines and are prepared to offer support. Flight SQ321 was a Boeing 777-300ER aircraft traveling from London to Singapore when it had to make an emergency landing in Bangkok.
"We express our deepest condolences to the families who lost loved ones, and our thoughts are with the passengers and crew," Boeing said in a statement.
6. Singapore to Investigate
The Singapore Transport Safety Investigation Bureau (TSIB), an agency under the Singapore Ministry of Transport, has opened an investigation into the SQ321 incident. They have been in contact with their counterparts in Thailand and will be sending investigators to Bangkok.
Prime Minister Lawrence Wong of Singapore expressed condolences to the family and loved ones of the man killed in the incident.
He stated that they were all saddened and shocked by what had happened. "We are working with the Thai authorities and doing everything we can to support the passengers and crew," Wong wrote in a Facebook post.
7. Severe Turbulence
Severe turbulence like that experienced by SQ321 "rarely occurs," analysts say, adding that turbulence usually does not result in significant loss of life or injuries.
Independent flight analyst Alvin Lie stated that the intensity of the turbulence on the Singapore Airlines flight was likely "extreme," the highest classification by the US National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA).
According to the agency, extreme turbulence causes the aircraft to violently sway and is nearly impossible to control. It can also cause structural damage.
8. Horror in the Passenger Cabin
The interior of the aircraft saw severe damage after experiencing turbulence. Oxygen masks were seen hanging from the ceiling, with food and passenger belongings scattered on the floor.
9. Passenger Testimonies
Passengers who were not wearing seat belts during the severe turbulence were thrown into overhead luggage bins, said a Malaysian student on the flight.
Another passenger mentioned that the seat belt sign was turned on moments before the aircraft plummeted, and some people suffered head and ear injuries due to the turbulence incident.
10. Passenger List:
Singapore Airlines provided details of the nationalities of the passengers on board SQ321: 6 from Australia, 2 from Canada, 1 from Germany, 3 from India, 2 from Indonesia, 1 from Iceland, 4 from Ireland, 1 from Israel, 16 from Malaysia, 2 from Myanmar, 23 from New Zealand, 5 from the Philippines, 41 from Singapore, 1 from South Korea, 2 from Spain, 47 from the UK, and 4 from the USA.
The incident on Singapore Airlines SQ321 highlights the rare and devastating impact of severe turbulence on air travel. Investigations are underway to determine the causes and prevent similar incidents in the future. Our condolences go out to the victims and their families during this difficult time.
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