22-5-2024 (SINGAPORE) A routine flight from London to Singapore took a devastating turn when a Singapore Airlines Boeing 777 aircraft encountered severe turbulence, resulting in a harrowing plunge of nearly 6,000 feet and leaving 1 dead. The mid-air ordeal unfolded on Tuesday as the aircraft was traversing the Andaman Sea, approaching Thai airspace.
According to flight data reports, the incident occurred in a span of mere minutes, with the plane rapidly descending from an altitude of approximately 37,000 feet to 31,000 feet, as documented by the real-time flight monitoring website “Flightradar24.” This sudden and massive drop of nearly 6,000 feet sent shockwaves through the cabin, throwing unsecured passengers and crew members violently against the ceiling and overhead compartments.
Passenger Dzafran Azmir, who experienced the ordeal firsthand, recounted the terrifying moments to British media outlets. “The plane tilted and started shaking, and suddenly it descended sharply, throwing off anyone who wasn’t wearing a seatbelt onto the ceiling,” he said, his voice trembling with the memory of the incident.
Azmir’s account was further corroborated by a circulated photograph depicting a flight attendant with blood streaming down her face, likely the result of the violent turbulence. The passenger also described the aftermath, with dented overhead compartments serving as grim reminders of the force with which unsecured passengers were flung about the cabin.
Faced with the critical situation, the pilots made the decision to divert the aircraft and make an emergency landing at Bangkok’s Suvarnabhumi Airport. While the exact number of injuries and the severity of the situation have yet to be confirmed, Singapore Airlines has confirmed the devastating loss of two lives as a result of the incident.
In the aftermath, the airline has vowed to conduct a thorough investigation into the circumstances surrounding the turbulence and the subsequent plunge. The safety and well-being of passengers and crew remain the airline’s top priority, as they work to provide support and assistance to those affected by this traumatic event.
Aftermath of Singapore Airlines flight 321 from London to Singapore which had to divert to Bangkok due to severe turbulence. One death passenger and several injured. Blood everywhere, destroyed cabin. #singaporeairlines #sq321 pic.twitter.com/C2FgrVt9yv
— Josh Cahill (@gotravelyourway) May 21, 2024
