Singapore Airlines has apologized for the death of one passenger from a heart attack and dozens more injured during severe turbulence on its flight yesterday morning.
Singapore Airlines chief executive Goh Choon Phong expressed his "deepest condolences to the family and loved ones of the deceased passenger" and addressed the incident on flight SQ321 in a video message.
“We deeply regret this incident and are committed to providing all necessary support and assistance to the passengers and crew members on board SQ321, as well as their families and loved ones. Our deepest condolences to the family and loved ones of the deceased passenger.
A flight with 143 passengers and crew SQ321, who were able to travel, arrived in Singapore this morning at 05:05 (Singapore time).
Another 79 passengers and six crew from SQ321 remain in Bangkok. This includes those receiving medical care, as well as their family members and loved ones who were on the flight. Our colleagues are on the ground providing them with all possible help."
One person was killed and 30 injured due to the sudden fall of the Singapore Airlines plane.
Details: https://t.co/rCTfwJskeP pic.twitter.com/Y9rFs47DEj
— liveTV.mn (@livetvmn) May 22, 2024
The Boeing 777-300ER plane diverted en route to Bangkok with 211 passengers and 18 crew members on board after the flight experienced "sudden extreme turbulence" over Myanmar. One passenger died and the airline said 30 passengers were treated for injuries after a flight from London to Singapore made an emergency landing in Bangkok on Tuesday. Samitivej Hospital said it is treating 71 passengers.
The injured will claim compensation
Passengers injured by severe turbulence on a Singapore Airlines flight are expected to take legal action and seek compensation, but the amount each may receive can differ even for identical injuries due to international treaty.
Under the Montreal Convention, Singapore Airlines is liable for accidents, which can include turbulence, on international flights regardless of whether the airline was negligent, according to US aviation lawyers. If passengers sue, the airline can't contest up to about $175.000 in damages.
If a passenger seeks more compensation, Singapore Airlines can try to limit liability by proving it took all necessary steps to avoid turbulence, said Mike Danko, a California lawyer representing the passengers. He said airlines rarely prevail in such arguments.
The passengers' legal representative said the airline could also limit its liability if it proved the passenger bore part of the blame for the injury because he ignored warnings to wear a seat belt.
The amount of damages often depends on the country in which the case is filed and how the legal system assesses the amount of damages.
The one person who died was a 73-year-old British man, identified as Geoffrey Kitchen.
"Preliminary investigations show that the deceased was suffering from a heart condition," Bangkok Suvarnabhumi International Airport General Manager Kittipong Kittikachorn said on Tuesday, adding that the autopsy process was still ongoing. At the same time, his wife, Linda, has been injured and taken to the hospital, but her condition is not yet known.
The death of Geoffrey Kitchen, who was a Bristol-based music and performance producer, was confirmed by Thornbury Musical Theater Group (TMTG), where he worked for more than 35 years, in a Facebook post describing him as "a gentleman with integrity and integrity' and who 'always did what was right for the team'.
The hospital said in a statement that at least 71 people were injured, including citizens from Malaysia, the United Kingdom, New Zealand, Spain, the United States and Ireland. It also reported that six people were seriously injured.
The Chronicle of Terror
Scenes of horror were experienced by the passengers of Singapore Airlines flight SQ321. The aircraft, a Singapore-bound Boeing 777-300ER, made an emergency landing in Bangkok, where the injured were taken to a hospital.
The 73-year-old Briton who was killed had heart problems and was traveling in economy class with his wife. The authorities will perform an autopsy on the body of the deceased, while all indications point to the fact that he died of a heart attack. The police have taken over the case and will contact the British embassy after the autopsy.
The reckoning
Shortly after 6:00 p.m. on Tuesday, the tragic news was announced.
The nationalities of the passengers are as follows: from Australia, two from Canada, one from Germany, three from India, two from Indonesia, one from Iceland, four from Ireland, one from Israel, 16 from Malaysia, two from Myanmar, 23 from New Zealand, five from the Philippines, 41 from Singapore, one from South Korea, one from Spain, 47 from the United Kingdom and four from the United States of America.
The statement said the plane experienced sudden extreme turbulence while flying at 37.000 feet, about 10 hours after takeoff. The pilot declared a medical emergency and diverted the aircraft to Bangkok and landed at 15.45:21 local time on May 2024, XNUMX.
A spokesman for the Thai authorities said during a press conference that several passengers could not even walk and were extricated. Investigations are ongoing.
About 100 passengers will be able to travel to Singapore tonight. After providing food, they will be flown by Thai Airways to their destination.
Most injuries come from cuts to the head.
28-year-old Dzafran Azmir described the terrifying descent to Reuters. "Suddenly the aircraft pitched and started to shake, so I started preparing for what was going to happen, and very suddenly there was a very dramatic drop, so everyone who was sitting and not wearing a seat belt was immediately thrown into the ceiling," he said.
Passengers reportedly fell to the floor or were thrown to the ceiling.
"An awful scream was heard"
Andrew, a passenger on the flight, told BBC 5 live about his experience. "I was covered in coffee. During the few seconds of the plane falling, there was an awful scream and what sounded like a thud," he said.
When the commotion subsided, he helped a woman who was "screaming in agony" and who had "a wound on her head."
Passengers who are in good health are in a special section of Suvarnabhumi Airport in Bangkok.
Skull place the interior of the aircraft
As shown in a video posted on social media, inside the aircraft, fallen oxygen masks, open luggage cabins, and objects can be seen lying on the ground. The roof components were stripped and pipes are visible, while a panicked flight attendant is seen bleeding from her nose.
#Breaking
Singapore Airlines flight SQ321 dropped about 6000 feet due to an air pocket. One person dead. Must have been incredibly scary #singaporeairlines #sq321— Danish (@kohkun654) May 21, 2024
The aircraft lost 6.000 feet in three minutes
Flight tracking data shows the aircraft fell 6.000 feet in three minutes after crossing the Bay of Bengal.
Source: protothema.gr