Passengers on the Singapore Airlines flight that encountered severe turbulence, prompting an emergency landing in Bangkok and tragically resulting in a passenger’s death, recounted chaotic scenes aboard the aircraft, detailing extensive damage and serious injuries.
More than 140 passengers and crew on the Singapore Airlines flight – Boeing BA.N 777-300ER plane, hit by severe turbulence on Tuesday, reached Singapore on a relief flight on Wednesday morning.
The London-Singapore flight made an emergency landing in Bangkok after the turbulence left many injured, while a 73-year-old British passenger died of a suspected heart attack.
According to the aircraft’s tracking provider FlightRadar 24, at around 0749 GMT, the flight encountered “a rapid change in vertical rate, consistent with a sudden turbulence event.”
“At the time, there were thunderstorms, some of which were severe,” the statement mentioned.
Images captured inside the aircraft depicted slashes in the overhead cabin panels, dangling oxygen masks and panels, along with scattered luggage
“At the time, there were thunderstorms, some of which were severe,” the statement mentioned.
Images captured inside the aircraft depicted slashes in the overhead cabin panels, dangling oxygen masks and panels, along with scattered luggage.
Additional pictures displayed food and debris scattered throughout the airplane.
“Singapore Airlines Passengers Describe Terrifying Experience
According to a passenger, some individuals experienced their heads colliding with the overhead lights and puncturing the panels.
Upon landing in Singapore, a 28-year-old student aboard the Boeing BA.N 777-300ER aircraft recounted to Reuters that he witnessed “people from across the aisle being propelled horizontally, striking the ceiling, and then landing in very awkward positions.”
“Anyone not wearing a seatbelt was immediately thrown upward into the ceiling. Some collided with the overhead baggage compartments, causing dents. They struck areas containing lights and masks, breaking through them,” described the student.
“The crew and individuals inside lavatories sustained the most injuries because we found people lying on the ground unable to rise. Many suffered spinal and head injuries,” the New York Post quoted the student as saying.
A British man with a neck injury mentioned that he and his family were fortunate none of them had lost their lives.
Speaking from a hospital in Thailand, he recounted, “There was no turbulence… the plane wasn’t shaking at all, and then suddenly, I was propelled upward. It happened so quickly. My son was thrown onto the floor two rows behind me. I heard that a man in the toilet hit the ceiling and was also badly injured.”
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Andrew Davies, another passenger, informed The New York Times that those with medical training were desperately trying to assist, including the elderly British man who tragically passed away on board.
“People’s belongings were strewn about, with coffee and water splattered on the ceiling. It felt surreal. There were numerous injured individuals—head wounds, bleeding ears. A woman was screaming in agony due to a severe back injury. I couldn’t offer much help,” Davies recounted.
He further detailed the initial moments of the incident as “horrendous screaming and what sounded like a heavy impact.”
“The most vivid memory for me is seeing objects flying through the air. I was drenched in coffee. The turbulence was incredibly intense,” he shared with the BBC.
A video captured inside the Singapore Airlines aircraft upon its landing in Bangkok reveals items strewn across the floor.
Another passenger described the aircraft unexpectedly beginning to “tilt upward” and “shake”.
Jerry, a sixty-eight-year-old British traveler en route to Australia for his son’s wedding, recounted that there was no prior warning before the “plane nosedived”.
“I struck my head on the ceiling, as did my wife – unfortunately, some individuals who were standing ended up flipping over,” he remembered.
A woman named Allison Barker recounted receiving a chilling text from her son, Josh, who was on board the flight, describing it as “terrifying”.
“I hate to worry you, but I’m on a really turbulent flight. The plane is making an emergency landing… I love you all,” her son’s message conveyed.
“It was absolutely terrifying,” she shared with the BBC.
“I had no idea what was happening. We were uncertain if he had survived; it was incredibly nerve-wracking. Those were the longest two hours of my life. It was dreadful, utterly frightening,” she expressed.
While her son sustained minor injuries during the turbulence, she expressed concern that the experience of coming close to death could have a lasting impact on him.
SINGAPORE AIRLINES RESPONDS TO TURBULENCE INCIDENT
In a video message released hours after the emergency landing in Bangkok, Goh Choon Phong, the CEO of Singapore Airlines, conveyed, “On behalf of Singapore Airlines, I extend my heartfelt condolences to the family and loved ones of the deceased.” Goh explained that the aircraft encountered sudden and severe turbulence, leading
The airline stated that the abrupt turbulence occurred over the Irrawaddy Basin in Myanmar approximately 10 hours into the flight.
Singapore’s Transport Minister, Chee Hong Tat, pledged government support for the passengers and their families.
“I am profoundly saddened by the incident on board Singapore Airlines flight SQ321 from London Heathrow to Singapore,” he shared in a statement on Facebook.
Is Turbulence Common in Aircraft?
Turbulence, caused by unstable weather patterns such as storms, is a common occurrence, as outlined in a briefing by aircraft manufacturer Airbus. Weather radar can detect the resulting water particles.
According to a 2021 study by the US National Transportation Safety Board, turbulence-related incidents are frequent. From 2009 to 2018, turbulence was involved in over a third of reported events, with most resulting in one or more serious injuries but no aircraft damage.
However, fatal turbulence incidents in air travel are exceptionally rare.
