Chaos erupted on a Singapore Airlines flight as a passenger details their awful experience at a high altitude.
A Singapore Airlines flight, SQ321, was flying high above the skies between London and Singapore when flight tracking data reveals the plane suddenly experienced rapid plunges, followed by climbs, over a span of about 90 seconds.
Passenger Andrew Davies, while on his way to New Zealand for work, recalls the flight being "perfectly normal" and "quite smooth," with no turbulence whatsoever. Mealtime was in progress during the unexpected air fluctuations.
However, around nine or 10 hours into the approximately 13-hour duration of the flight, Davies was engrossed in watching a movie when, without warning, he observed the seat belt light switched on. Instruction followed, and he buckled his seat belt - an act that ultimately saved him from harm.
"It felt like the plane just dropped," Davies recounted to CNN. "It probably only lasted a few seconds, but I clearly recall seeing shoes, iPads, iPhones, cushions, blankets, cutlery, and plates flying through the air and crashing into the ceiling."
The aftermath of the incidence left the cabin in a disarray, with papers, cups, and water pitchers spilled on the ground, and ceiling panels and piping dangling loosely. Davies was located near the front of the plane and observed injuries incurred by numerous passengers, like a 73-year-old man named Geoff Kitchen, who regrettably passed away while onboard.
"That gentleman was sitting behind me," Davies stated. "A lot of people needed help, so we attended to him. I helped carry him, remove him from his seat, and lay him on the floor to allow medical professionals to perform CPR."
Kitchen received CPR for approximately 20 minutes, while Davies noted that "there was so much screaming" during the incident, and passengers' injuries were clearly visible. A lady boasted a significant head wound, and another elderly passenger was in a state of shock.
There was another passenger, a 28-year-old student named Dzafran Azmir, who experienced the shifting aircraft tilting forward and shaking violently.
"Suddenly, the aircraft started tilting up and shaking," Azmir relayed to Reuters. "There was a dramatic drop, and everyone seated who wasn't wearing a seatbelt was immediately launched into the ceiling. Some individuals bashed their heads on the overhead storage bins, damaged light and mask fixtures."
The passenger opined that the turbulence's short duration could be why passengers were unable to respond, as there were individuals in the airplane's toilet and flight crew members still standing when it took place.
After the perturbing incident, the aircraft was rerouted to Bangkok, Thailand. Among the 211 passengers and 18 crew initially on the flight, 143 people were transported to Singapore and reached their destination early Wednesday morning, as confirmed by Singapore Airlines CEO Goh Choon Phong in a Facebook video message.
The remaining 79 passengers and 6 crew members are still in Bangkok, with some receiving medical attention; their loved ones are subsequently accompanying them.
Passengers from various nations, such as Australia, Malaysia, the United Kingdom, New Zealand, Spain, and the United States, were among the casualties.
Kittipong Kittikachorn, the manager of the Bangkok Airport, shared on Tuesday that Kitchen appeared to have experienced a heart condition, with the autopsy process presently underway. At least eight passengers had broken arms, while most of the injuries were mere cuts and bruises, according to Kittikachorn.
Goh, the CEO, sent his condolences to Kitchen's family members and expressed his sympathies for the painful experience endured by the passengers. The airline will provide support in the ongoing investigation alongside authorities.
Singapore's Ministry of Transport has engaged in a joint investigation with Thai officials, whereas the US National Transportation Safety Board is also deploying a representative and four technical consultants to Singapore.
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The incident affected passengers from various parts of the world, including Asia. The flight had originally been bound for Singapore before being rerouted to Bangkok due to the chaos.
Source: edition.cnn.com
