Severe Turbulence on Flight from London to Singapore Leaves One Person Dead and Dozens Injured
The pilot declared an emergency situation and made an unplanned landing at Bangkok airport, Thailand. In the incident, a 73-year-old passenger of British nationality died; according to preliminary information, he was allegedly suffering from heart problems.
Medical teams prepare to take the injured to hospital. Photography: Narong Sangnak/EPA
A flight that was supposed to be a smooth journey between two continents ended up turning into a terrible tragedy when severe turbulence hit an aircraft traveling from London to Singapore. The incident with the Singapore Airlines Boeing 777, which occurred this Tuesday (21), resulted in the death of one person and left another 30 passengers injured. The fatal victim was a 73-year-old British passenger, who reportedly had heart problems. One of the possible causes of death, currently under investigation, is a heart attack.
The Incident
Flight SQ32 departed London's Heathrow Airport and headed to Singapore's Changi Airport. The event took place approximately an hour and a half before landing. According to the airline, the aircraft commander declared an emergency and made an unscheduled landing in Bangkok, Thailand, at 3:45 pm local time (5:45 am Brasília time), where the injured were treated.
According to Singapore Airlines, there were 211 passengers and 18 crew members on board the aircraft. The general director of Thailand Airports reported that seven of the injured are in critical condition. Another 23 people, including nine members of the Singapore crew, suffered minor injuries and are receiving treatment. The airline's statement confirmed the existence of injuries and one death on board the Boeing 777-300ER.
"As of 7:50 pm Singapore time (8:50 am Brasília time), 18 individuals were hospitalized. Another 12 are receiving treatment in hospital. The remaining passengers and crew are being examined and receiving treatment, if necessary, at Suvarnabhumi International Airport in Bangkok" , says Singapore Airlines.
It's sudden
Interior of the Singapore Airlines Boeing 777 after an episode of severe turbulence - Photo Reproduction/Reuters/Stringer
According to the website FlightRadar24, which monitors flights in real time, the aircraft suffered a precipitous drop from 37,000 feet to 33,825 feet in just one minute, which represents a loss of altitude of 967 meters. An article published by FlightRadar24 highlights a sudden and significant change in the vertical speed of flight SQ321 at 7:49 am UTC (4:49 am Brasília time).
"In normal flights, some small variations in vertical speed are expected. However, (...) there were unexpected variations for almost a minute before the vertical speed returned to 0 feet per minute", states the author.
According to the article, This unexpected variation is compatible with severe turbulence. There is no official information from the airline or control authorities about the intensity of the turbulence faced by the aircraft. Dzafran Azmir, a 28-year-old passenger who was on board, shared his account of the severe turbulence with Reuters. He reported that the aircraft suddenly began to tilt and shake. At that moment, he prepared himself for what was to come. Soon after, a sudden fall occurred, causing all passengers who were not wearing seat belts to be immediately thrown towards the ceiling.
"Some people hit their heads on the luggage compartments and dented them, hitting the places where the lights and masks are and they fell down," said Azmir.
Not wearing a seat belt is one of the ways someone can be injured or lose their life during severe turbulence. According to the NTSB (US National Transportation Safety Board), Turbulence is the main cause of injury incidents in commercial aviation. However, fatalities resulting from turbulence are extremely rare. Between 1980 and 2009, there were only three recorded cases of fatal victims, and since then, there have been none, as reported by the agency. In 2023, a fateful event occurred in the USA due to severe turbulence, however, this incident took place on a private aircraft, not one operated by a commercial airline.
Demonstration by the airline and Boeing
Singapore Airlines issued a statement highlighting its commitment to providing comprehensive assistance to all passengers, expressing its condolences to the family of the deceased. According to the statement, the company's priority is to guarantee all possible assistance to passengers and crew on board the aircraft. Additionally, they are collaborating with Thai authorities to secure necessary medical assistance, while a team is being deployed to Bangkok to provide additional support as needed. Boeing also said it is in contact with Singapore Airlines and is ready to offer any assistance needed.
