A London-Singapore flight encountered extreme turbulence, resulting in one fatality and multiple injuries.
On Monday, May 20, Singapore Airlines’ flight #SQ321 from London’s Heathrow Airport to Singapore experienced “extreme turbulence en route,” according to a statement the airline posted on social media.
The Boeing 777-300ER was diverted to Bangkok, according to the airline, and it landed there on Tuesday, May 21, at around 3:45 p.m. local time. Among the 211 passengers and 18 crew members on board, there had been “one fatality” and “injuries,” according to the report.
The airline went on in a statement, “Singapore Airlines offers its deepest condolences to the family of the deceased.” ”Our priority is to provide all possible assistance to all passengers and crew on board the aircraft.”
The airline said that it is sending a team to Bangkok to “provide additional assistance” and that it is collaborating with local authorities in Thailand to “provide the necessary medical assistance.”
Singapore Airlines did not say how the fatality occurred or how many people were injured in total. Additionally, the airline did not provide a timeline detailing the turbulence’s occurrence or the decision to divert the flight.
“I am deeply saddened to learn about the incident onboard Singapore Airlines flight SQ321 from London Heathrow to Singapore,” he said in a statement on Facebook. “My deepest condolences to the family of the deceased.”
According to the National Weather Service (NWS), turbulence occurs when there is an irregular motion of the air resulting from eddies and vertical currents. Large and abrupt changes in altitude and/or attitude, as well as the airplane’s temporary loss of control, are possible during intense turbulence.
Passengers in an aircraft experiencing severe turbulence “will be forced violently against their seat belts,” according to the NWS.
“Injuries from severe turbulence are relatively rare in the context of millions of flights operated,” aviation expert John Strickland told the BBC. “However, severe turbulence can be dramatic and lead to severe injuries, or sadly, in this case, a fatality.”
“It is not in vain that the airline advises wearing seat belts loosely on any kind of flight,” he said.
