One dead and several injured after 'severe turbulence' hits UK flight

Singapore Airlines Airbus A350-941
Singapore Airlines Airbus A350-941 -Credit:Reach


A Singapore Airlines flight from London Heathrow Airport to Singapore was compelled to make an emergency landing due to "severe turbulence", resulting in one fatality.

Flight SQ321, which carried 211 passengers and 18 crew members, had several other people injured during this unsettling incident. The flight operated by a Boeing 777-300ER aircraft, was set to touch base at Singapore Changi Airport at 6.10pm but instead landed in Bangkok at 3.45pm local time on Tuesday.

On-board images reveal the aftermath of the turbulent disruption as meals and debris were scattered across the floor of the plane. Ambulances can be seen lined up on the tarmac at Suvarnabhumi International Airport in Bangkok, eagerly awaiting the plane's unscheduled arrival.

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Currently, extreme tropical thunderstorms plague the region's airspace, according to The Mirror. In a statement, Singapore Airlines clarified: "Singapore Airlines flight SQ321, operating from London Heathrow to Singapore on 20 May, encountered severe turbulence en-route. We can confirm that there are injuries and one fatality on board."

The airline further stated: "Singapore Airlines offers its deepest condolences to the family of the deceased. Our priority is to provide all possible assistance to all passengers and crew on board the aircraft.nWe are working with the local authorities in Thailand to provide the necessary medical assistance and sending a team to Bangkok to provide any additional assistance needed."

Tracking data from FlightRadar24 indicates that the aircraft was at a cruising altitude of 37,000 feet above the Andaman Sea, off Myanmar's coast, just after 9am BST when it experienced a sudden descent of 6,000 feet. Aviation expert John Strickland commented to PA news agency, noting that "turbulence happens", but stressed that such incidents are "limited" given the millions of flights each year, with "fatalities are rare".

He elaborated on the geographical risks: "Exposure is greater in different parts of the world. The South Atlantic, Africa and the Bay of Bengal are all places that spring to mind where there's a greater incidence. There are discussions about whether climate change is influencing an increase in occurrences."

Strickland also mentioned that airlines employ various strategies to avoid turbulence, including weather forecasts, radar, and reports from preceding flights. He emphasized the importance of safety measures, saying: "It can never be taken lightly when airlines recommended you keep the seatbelt loosely fastened throughout the flight."

The airline has not yet released a statement regarding the cause of the severe turbulence or the events on the flight that led to one fatality. We will continue to bring updates on this developing story as more details become available.