A Singapore Airlines plane makes an emergency landing after reports of severe turbulence and the death of one passenger. (Photo credit: Viral Press)
The Singapore Airlines plane that was forced to make an emergency landing in Bangkok last week after encountering “severe turbulence” plummeted 178 feet in 4.6 seconds, investigators have found.
Singapore’s Ministry of Transport said injuries to crew and passengers on the Boeing 777-300ER, which was en route from London to Singapore, were likely caused by a rapid loss of altitude. A 73-year-old male passenger died of what appeared to be a heart attack, and dozens of others were injured, according to Reuters.
The Ministry of Transport said Singapore investigators, working with representatives from the National Transportation Safety Board, the Federal Aviation Administration and Boeing, determined that Singapore Airlines Flight 321 first experienced vibrations while flying over southern Burma on May 21.
“Around the same time that the slight vibrations began, the aircraft’s altitude was recorded to increase unexpectedly, reaching a maximum altitude of 37,362 feet. In response to this unexpected increase in altitude, the autopilot lowered the aircraft to a selected altitude of 37,000 feet,” it said.
One person dies after ‘severe turbulence’ causes chaos on Singapore Airlines flight
Airport staff gather near an aircraft ladder attached to Singapore Airlines Flight 321 as it lands at Suvarnabhumi International Airport in Bangkok, Thailand, on Tuesday, May 21. (Reuters/Atit Perawongmetha/Reuters Photo)
“Furthermore, the pilot noticed an unexpected increase in speed and applied the speed brakes to counteract this,” the report continued. “During speed management, at 07:49:32 the pilot was heard to call out that the seat belt signs were illuminated.”
| Ticker | safety | last | change | change % |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Shingy | Singapore Airlines | 9.975 | +0.12 | +1.17% |
| BA | Boeing | 175.08 | +0.56 | +0.32% |
The Department of Transportation also said, “The sudden change in G forces over a period of 4.6 seconds caused the altitude to drop 178 feet, from 37,362 feet to 37,184 feet.”
Singapore Airlines plane makes emergency landing in Bangkok
Passengers on the Singapore Airlines flight told Reuters that passengers were thrown from their seats when the plane encountered turbulence. (Reuters/Reuters Photo)
In a statement, Singapore Airlines confirmed the preliminary findings and said it was “cooperating fully with the relevant authorities in their ongoing investigation into this incident.”
“We are committed to supporting the passengers and crew who were on board SQ321 that day, as well as their families and loved ones,” the company added. “This includes covering medical and hospital costs, as well as any additional assistance that may be required.”
“Suddenly the plane started to move,” Zahran Azmir, a 28-year-old passenger on the flight, previously told Reuters. [started] The plane was banking and shaking and I started to prepare myself for what was happening and then all of a sudden there was a very dramatic drop and everyone who was in their seats and not wearing their seatbelts was thrown instantly into the ceiling.”
The interior of Singapore Airlines Flight SQ321 was photographed after it made an emergency landing at Suvarnabhumi International Airport in Bangkok, Thailand on Tuesday, May 21st. (Reuters/Reuters Photo)
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“Every cabin crew member that I saw was injured,” Andrew Davis, who was on the flight, told Reuters. “There was not a single Singapore Airlines employee who wasn’t injured.”
