An elderly British man has passed away and over 30 people have been injured on a Singapore Airlines flight from London after encountering severe turbulence. The plane, carrying 211 passengers and 18 crew, was en route to Singapore when it was forced to divert to Bangkok. The airline has extended its sympathies to the family of the man, who has yet to be named.
Passengers have spoken of being thrown around the cabin as the aircraft suddenly dropped, leaving people and objects tossed around. A Reuters’ interviewee said that the aircraft suddenly started tilting up, with shaking ensuing before an abrupt and dramatic drop. Unrestrained passengers were violently thrown towards the ceiling, hitting their heads on the overhead baggage cabinets and even breaking through the places where oxygen masks are stored.
Singapore Airlines confirmed that 31 passengers have been hospitalised; the rest of the passengers and crew are being assessed and treated for any injuries at Suvarnabhumi International Airport. The airline is working with Thai authorities in providing medical care to passengers, and has despatched a team to provide further help in Bangkok.
It is currently unclear of the exact events that led up to the severe turbulence. What is known is that turbulence is most commonly caused when aircrafts fly through storm clouds. However, clear air turbulence is also a possibility and is not detectable on weather radars, as was previously reported here. Aviation experts have reiterated the importance of keeping seat belts fastened during flights as part of standard safety procedures. With scientists warning that global warming could make more planes more prone to encountering turbulence as weather patterns shift, having seat belts fastened across all durations of a flight could be more crucial than ever before
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