Daily Reports
A Singapore Airlines flight from London to Singapore experienced severe turbulence, resulting in the death of a 73-year-old British man and injuries to at least 30 other passengers. The incident occurred approximately 10 hours into the flight, at an altitude of over 11,000 meters while flying over Myanmar. Following the turbulence, the aircraft, a Boeing 777-300 ER, made an emergency landing at Suvarnabhumi International Airport in Bangkok, Thailand, around 6 p.m. local time.
Thai authorities and Singapore Airlines confirmed that there were 211 passengers and 18 crew members on board. Seven of the injured passengers are in critical condition, with several sustaining head injuries. A male passenger described the terrifying scene: 'Teacups and plates were flying at great speed. I saw people who were seriously injured on the plane, and it was very frightening.'
The director of Thailand Airports, Kittipong Kittikachorn, speculated that the deceased passenger may have suffered a heart attack during the event. He added that the injured were promptly admitted to a Bangkok hospital. Based on data from FlightRadar, the aircraft experienced a dramatic altitude drop from 37,000 to 31,000 feet over a span of four minutes before stabilizing.
Video footage shared on social media revealed extensive interior damage to the plane, with the ceiling partially collapsed, and blankets, papers, and food packages strewn across the aisles. Blood stains were also visible. Emergency response teams dispatched a dozen ambulances to the runway to assist the injured, as shown in videos of ambulances rushing towards Bangkok hospitals.
Singapore’s Transport Safety Investigation Bureau has announced plans to send investigators to Thailand to determine the cause of the turbulence. Singapore's Minister of Transport, Chee Hong Tat, expressed his deep sadness over the incident and extended his condolences to the family of the deceased. Singapore Airlines, a carrier renowned for its safety, has not experienced a serious accident since 2000, when an aircraft collided with a construction team during takeoff in Taiwan, resulting in the deaths of 83 passengers.
- No Japanese passengers were involved in this incident. The turbulence took place while breakfast was being served on board, and most passengers had their seat belts fastened at that time. Despite the chaos inside the cabin, the plane appeared to be undamaged from the outside.
- Authorities are looking into the structural integrity of the aircraft, focusing on how the severe turbulence impacted the overall flight experience. This event is a stark reminder of the importance of abiding by safety protocols during flights, especially keeping seat belts fastened when seated.
- The flight, identified by registration number 9V-SWM, diverted specifically to handle the medical emergencies arising from the turbulence. The Transport Safety Investigation Bureau will likely look into weather conditions and other factors that may have contributed to this severe event.
