2024-05-21 12:03:52
Pictures capture the sheer panic and horror as severe turbulence hit a Singapore Airlines flight from London on Tuesday, with the aircraft plunging 6,000 feet within just five minutes. One passenger was killed and 30 were reportedly injured in the turbulence which forced the flight to make an emergency landing in Bangkok.
According to FlightRadar 24 data, the aircraft sharply dropped from an altitude of around 37,000 feet to 31,000 feet within just five minutes as it finished traversing the Andaman Sea and neared Thailand. It had flown around 11 hours since taking off from London at the time.
“Suddenly the aircraft starts tilting up and there was shaking so I started bracing for what was happening, and very suddenly there was a very dramatic drop so everyone seated and not wearing seatbelt was launched immediately into the ceiling,” Dzafran Azmir, a 28-year-old student on board the flight told Reuters.
Visuals from inside the aircraft show dented overhead bins, blankets and miscellaneous items strewn across the floor, and masks and light and fan panels hanging off the ceiling.
The Boeing 777-300ER plane with 211 passengers and 18 crew was headed to Singapore when it made the emergency landing.
Singapore Airlines in a statement confirmed the fatality. The airline said that the flight had encountered severe turbulence while on its way to Singapore.
“Singapore Airlines flight SQ321, operating from London (Heathrow) to Singapore on 20 May 2024, encountered severe turbulence en-route. The aircraft diverted to Bangkok and landed at 1545hrs local time on 21 May 2024. We can confirm that there are injuries and one fatality on board the Boeing 777-300ER,” the statement read.
“Singapore Airlines offers its deepest condolences to the family of the deceased,” it added.
