A British Man Dies, and Several Are Injured on London to Singapore Trip. Here are key points:
- A 73-year-old British passenger died after severe turbulence struck the plane
- Seven people were critically injured, and over 20 more were hurt in the rough air
- The Singapore Airlines flight made an emergency landing in Bangkok, Thailand
How scary would it be to be on a plane that suddenly dropped thousands of feet in the air? Passengers on a Singapore Airlines flight experienced this terrifying situation.
What Happened on the Flight?
The Boeing 777 plane was flying from London to Singapore when it encountered extreme turbulence over Thailand. Passengers reported the aircraft plunged around 6,000 feet without warning.
Jerry, a passenger heading to a wedding, described the chaos:
“There was a bit of turbulence, and suddenly the plane plunged. I don’t know how far, but they said 6,000 feet…there was no warning at all. I ended up hitting my head on the ceiling; my wife did too. Some poor people were walking around and ended up with bad injuries. It was instantaneous and horrible.”
With the violent turbulence, anything unsecured went flying – including passengers who weren’t wearing seatbelts. The pilot landed in Bangkok, having declared an emergency mid-flight.
Injuries and Damage on Board
After landing in Bangkok, the full extent of the injuries became clear:
- One passenger, a 73-year-old British man, died from the turbulence
- Seven people suffered critical injuries
- 23 had moderate injuries, including a flight attendant
- Many others had minor injuries
Videos inside the plane showed the immense force involved, with debris scattered everywhere and overhead bins flung open.
Crew Says It Was “Worst Turbulence Ever”
Air turbulence can happen, but the Singapore Airlines crew said this event was exceptional. One staff member with 30 years of flying experience called it “the worst turbulence she’d ever experienced.”
Investigations are underway to understand if this was a freak occurrence or if other factors were involved. Plane sensors and the black box recorder will provide key data.
While turbulence is a known risk of air travel, incidents causing deaths are extremely rare on large commercial jets. Experts recommend keeping seatbelts fastened as the best defence against injuries.
What’s Next for Passengers?
After the emergency landing, the uninjured passengers waited long in Bangkok. Their families arrived at the Singapore airport expecting to greet them in the evening but were met with barricades and little information for hours.
The distraught relatives were eventually moved to a private area and offered support services. Airport staff kept the media away to allow privacy.
A new Singapore Airlines flight was being arranged to finally bring the uninjured passengers to their destination sometime at night.
For those hospitalized in Bangkok, investigations into exactly what went wrong with such terrifying consequences are only beginning. One thing is clear – those on board will not forget the event.
How can air travel be made safer when extreme turbulence strikes?
