Today, severe turbulence on a Singapore Airlines flight resulted in the tragic death of 1 passenger and injuries to 30 others. The death was confirmed by Singapore Airlines in a social media post. Flight SQ 321 of Singapore Airlines is en route from Singapore to London but diverted to Bangkok due to severe turbulence. The turbulence struck approximately two hours into the flight and made an emergency landing at the nearby airport of Bangkok. The Singapore-bound Boeing 777-300ER landed at 15:45 local (08:45 GMT) in Bangkok. This flight was carrying 211 passengers and 18 crew as per the airline’s statement.
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Severe Turbulence on Singapore Airlines Flight: 1 Dead, 30 Injured
Singapore Airlines stated on the X post by expressing deep condolences to the family of the deceased and commitment to providing support to all affected passengers. In the post, they state “Singapore Airlines flight #SQ321, operating from London (Heathrow) to Singapore on 20 May 2024, encountered severe turbulence en-route. The aircraft diverted to Bangkok and landed at 15:45 hrs local time on 21 May 2024. We can confirm that there are injuries and one fatality on board the Boeing 777-300ER. Singapore Airlines offers its deepest condolences to the family of the deceased.”
Moreover, the airline is also working with the Thai authorities to provide enough medical help to the passengers and send a team to the airport to provide additional help. In response, Thai authorities dispatched ambulances and emergency facilities to the Suvarnabhumi Airport, where the flight was landed.
Thai authorities, Singapore’s Transport Minister Chee Hong Tat released an update that they are providing all the essential and medical help to the passengers. He also posted on his social media account “I am deeply saddened to learn about the incident onboard Singapore Airlines flight SQ321 from London Heathrow to Singapore”
Thai immigration police said medical facilities were provided to the passenger, but they did not confirm the number of injured people. In addition, the names of the injured passengers are still not released. They do not want to create chaos and panic at the airport. Right now, just focusing on the necessary medical assistance.
However, what happened to the flight is still unclear. The airline also added that they are cooperating with the aviation team to investigate the incident and understand how such severe turbulence could have occurred without any warning. The investigation will focus on weather conditions, the aircraft’s performance, and any potential mechanical issues that could have contributed.
This flight incident highlights the unpredictable nature of turbulence and the significance of safety precautions like using seat belts when sitting can minimize injuries to the passengers. The aviation community is keeping a careful eye on the investigation’s findings to enhance safety procedures and stop such types of future incidents.