What Really Happened on Singapore Airlines Flight SQ321

 Dzafran Azmir was among the many passengers on a Singapore Airlines flight that experienced severe turbulence, resulting in numerous injuries and the tragic death of a passenger. The Boeing 777-300ER, en route from London to Singapore, diverted to Bangkok after encountering intense turbulence that sent passengers and crew flying around the cabin.

The turbulence struck suddenly over the Irrawaddy Basin in Myanmar, about ten hours into the flight. The plane dropped from an altitude of 37,000 feet to about 31,000 feet within a short span, causing chaos inside the cabin. Passengers were flung into the ceiling, and some sustained serious injuries after hitting overhead panels and lights.

"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 a seatbelt was launched immediately into the ceiling," Azmir, a 28-year-old student, recounted to Reuters.

Photographs from inside the aircraft showed significant damage, including gashes in the overhead panels, hanging oxygen masks, and scattered luggage. The turbulence proved fatal for a 73-year-old British passenger, who suffered a suspected heart attack.

The plane made an emergency landing at Suvarnabhumi Airport in Bangkok, where the injured received medical attention. Singapore Airlines reported that 30 people were injured, while Samitivej Hospital in Thailand indicated they treated 71 passengers, including six with severe injuries.

Singapore's Transport Safety Investigation Bureau (TSIB) and the U.S. National Transportation Safety Board are investigating the incident. The precise sequence of events remains unclear, particularly whether the medical emergency was declared before or after the turbulence struck.

The incident highlights the unpredictable nature of turbulence, especially clear air turbulence, which is difficult to detect. According to a 2021 NTSB study, turbulence-related accidents are the most common type of airline accidents, often resulting in serious injuries but rarely in aircraft damage.

Singapore Airlines, recognized globally as a leading airline, has maintained a strong safety record with no major incidents in recent years. The last significant accident occurred in 2000, involving a flight from Singapore to Los Angeles via Taipei, resulting in 83 fatalities.

Singapore’s Transport Minister Chee Hong Tat expressed his condolences to the affected passengers and their families. "I am deeply saddened to learn about the incident onboard Singapore Airlines flight SQ321 from London Heathrow to Singapore. My deepest condolences to the family of the deceased," he stated on Facebook.

Despite the severity of the turbulence and the tragic loss, experts emphasize that fatalities due to turbulence are extremely rare. Andrew Charlton, director of Aviation Advocacy, noted that while aircraft are designed to withstand severe turbulence, unfastened passengers remain vulnerable to injuries.

This incident serves as a stark reminder of the importance of wearing seatbelts during flights and the unpredictable nature of air travel, especially over regions prone to thunderstorms and rapid temperature changes.