British passenger dies after severe turbulence on London to Singapore flight | Air transport

A British passenger has died and dozens have been injured after a flight from London to Singapore was hit by turbulence.

Passengers onboard the Singapore Airlines plane told of a “dramatic drop” that launched those not wearing a seatbelt into the cabin ceiling.

The airline said the Boeing 777 carrying more than 200 passengers encountered severe turbulence on its way from Heathrow. The aircraft was diverted to Bangkok, where it landed at 3.45pm local time (0945 BST) on Tuesday.

According to Thai authorities, the unnamed passenger who died had a heart condition. He was 73 and travelling with his wife.

Unconfirmed reports from airline-tracking websites suggest the flight may have dropped about 1,800 metres (5,900ft) when it flew into the rough air, after traversing the Andaman Sea nearing Thailand.

Images posted on social media showed broken overhead panels in the aircraft cabin ceiling. Emergency services met the plane at Bangkok’s Suvarnabhumi airport.

The airline said 18 people were taken to hospital and a further 12 received treatment. At least 10 ambulances were deployed.

The airline said: “Singapore Airlines flight SQ321, operating from London (Heathrow) to Singapore on 20 May 2024, encountered severe turbulence en route.

“We can confirm that there are injuries and one fatality onboard the Boeing 777-300ER. There were a total of 211 passengers and 18 crew onboard. Singapore Airlines offers its deepest condolences to the family of the deceased.”

A later statement said: “We deeply apologise for the traumatic experience that our passengers and crew members suffered on this flight. We are providing all necessary assistance during this difficult time. We are working with our colleagues and the local authorities in Thailand to provide the necessary assistance.”

One passenger on the flight, Dzafran Azmir, a 28-year-old student, told Reuters: “Suddenly the aircraft starts tilting up and there was shaking so I started bracing for what was happening, and very suddenly there was a very dramatic drop so everyone seated and not wearing a seatbelt was launched immediately into the ceiling.

“Some people hit their heads on the baggage cabins overhead and dented it, they hit the places where lights and masks are and broke straight through it.”

Thai immigration police said medical personnel had boarded the plane to assess injuries, and uninjured passengers had disembarked.

Kittipong Kittikachorn, the general manager of Suvarnabhumi airport, told reporters seven people were in a critical condition at Srinakarin hospital. A further 23 passengers and one crew member had less severe injuries, he said.

Fatalities caused by turbulence are extremely rare on international scheduled flights, but severe injuries have occurred – more often to crew. There have been fatalities on smaller private jets, although usually only when the turbulence has led to a crash.

Weather conditions in the region have been associated with turbulence in the past. Two crew onboard a British Airways flight returning from Singapore to London in June 2023 sustained broken legs after being thrown around the cabin during severe turbulence over the Bay of Bengal.

https://www.theguardian.com/world/article/2024/may/21/severe-turbulence-london-to-singapore-flight