A catastrophic event unfolded on a Singapore Airlines flight from London when severe turbulence led to the death of one passenger and critical injuries to seven others. The flight was forced to make an emergency landing in Bangkok. Singapore Airlines expressed its deepest condolences and apologies for the traumatic experience endured by passengers and crew.
The incident occurred early Tuesday morning as the aircraft encountered unexpected severe air turbulence while crew members were serving breakfast. According to Kittipong Kittikachorn, the general manager of Suvarnabhumi Airport, the aircraft hit an air pocket that necessitated an emergency descent and landing. A British national, aged 73, tragically passed away due to what appeared to be a heart attack triggered by the turbulence.
In total, thirty passengers sustained injuries with varying severities. Eighteen individuals required hospitalization, with seven suffering from severe head injuries indicative of the violence of the disturbance experienced onboard.
FlightRadar 24, an aircraft tracking service, reported that data around the time of the incident showed significant altitude changes within a minute, which corroborated passenger accounts of the plane abruptly rising and then dropping. Dzafran Azmir, a 28-year-old student on the flight, described a terrifying scene where unsecured passengers and objects were thrown towards the cabin ceiling during the sudden descent.
Singapore Airlines has pledged full cooperation with Thai authorities to support the injured and investigate the incident further. The airline is also reviewing its procedures to enhance safety measures and prevent such incidents in the future.
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