Recently a Singapore Airlines flight experienced severe turbulence, as per a preliminary investigation. The plane rapidly dropped over 54 meters (177 feet) in less than five seconds.
A 73-year-old passenger died of a suspected heart attack and many people were injured after flight SQ321 from London to Singapore experienced with sudden turbulence while flying over Myanmar.
The flight carried 211 passengers and 18 crew and it was diverted to Bangkok for an emergency landing. ‘The aircraft experienced a sudden change in gravitational force, this resulted in the passengers who were not belted up to become airborne and fall back down’, said Singapore’s transport ministry said in a statement.
The statement further said, ‘The changes in gravitational force over the 4.6 seconds duration resulted in an altitude drop of 178ft (54m), from 37,362ft to 37,184ft. This sequence of events caused the injuries to the crew and passengers’.
Pictures of the cabin revealed gashes in the overhead panels, oxygen masks and panels hanging from the ceiling, and luggage scattered around.
One passenger reported that some people’s heads had slammed into the lights above the seats, breaking the panels.
‘We are cooperating fully with the investigation’, said the Singapore Airlines. It said in a statement, ‘We are committed to support our passengers and crew who were onboard SQ321 on that day, as well as their families and loved ones’.
‘45 people who were onboard the flight were still in Bangkok, including 28 passengers receiving medical treatment in hospital’, said the airline.
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