A tragic incident occurred aboard a Singapore Airlines flight bound for Singapore from London, as severe turbulence struck the Boeing 777-300ER, resulting in the loss of one passenger’s life and several others sustaining injuries. The flight, SQ 321, was redirected to Bangkok and safely landed at 15:45 local time (08:45 GMT).
With a total of 211 passengers and 18 crew onboard, Singapore Airlines expressed heartfelt condolences to the family of the deceased and assured cooperation with Thai authorities to provide medical aid to those affected. Emergency response teams were swiftly dispatched to Suvarnabhumi Airport by Thai authorities, while Singapore’s Transport Minister, Chee Hong Tat, pledged government assistance to the passengers and their families.
John Strickland, an aviation expert, acknowledged the rarity of injuries from severe turbulence amidst millions of flights but emphasized its potential severity, including fatalities. Flight crews are equipped to anticipate turbulence and trained to respond effectively, with airlines advocating for passengers to keep seat belts loosely fastened throughout their journey as a precautionary measure.
