Havoc ensued on a Singapore Airlines plane: A traveler recounts the horrific experience at 37,000 feet.
Once airborne at 37,000 feet, Flight SQ321 from London to Singapore experienced a sudden and unexpected turbulent episode. Flight tracking data reveals the plane swiftly descended before momentarily ascending again. This process occurred twice within a span of about 90 seconds.
Andrew Davies, a business traveler on board, initially recounted his journey as "perfectly normal" when asked about the incident. He described it as a smooth flight without a hint of turbulence whatsoever.
At the time of the incident, several passengers were engrossed in breakfast.
Davies had settled in for a movie when he noticed a cabin safety light indicated the need to fasten seat belts. Moments later, the aircraft experienced an unforeseen and sudden drop. Davies recalled that the disquieting descent seemed to last only a few seconds, yet he vividly remembers numerous objects flying through the air, including shoes, iPads, iPhones, cushions, blankets, cutlery, and plates clashing with the cabin ceiling.
"The gentlemen beside me was sipping a cup of coffee," Davies recounted to CNN. "He was splattered all over me and the ceiling."
After cleansing himself with napkins, Davies surveyed the disarray of the cabin. Papers, cutlery, and water pitchers were found strewn about the floor while loose ceiling panels and piping hung precariously from their joints.
Davies, seated close to the front of the plane, observed many injuries sustained by the affected passengers. His immediate actions included aiding the elderly Briton, Geoff Kitchen, who tragically succumbed on the flight.
"That gentleman was sitting right behind me," Davies recalled. "We tended to him, helped carry him out of his seat, and laid him on the floor. Paramedics administered CPR for about 20 minutes."
A fellow passenger, Azmir Dzafran, a 28-year-old student, provided a different perspective, telling Reuters the plane had unexpectedly "tilted" and shook.
"Suddenly, there was a very sharp drop," Azmir explained. "It was like we were launched against the ceiling. Several people hit their head on the baggage compartments and dented it. Others struck the area where lights and oxygen masks are, shattering them."
Azmir emphasized the speed of the event, suggesting passengers had no time to prepare. Some were in the restroom, and there were still air crew members standing when the turbulence ensued.
Following the incident, the plane was redirected to Bangkok. Of the 229 people aboard the flight, 143 were transported to Singapore on a relief flight. They arrived in Singapore before dawn the following day. The remaining 79 passengers and 6 crew members await further update. They include those requiring medical treatment and their respective families.
Passengers injured hailed from Australia, Malaysia, the UK, New Zealand, Spain, the USA, and Ireland, the hospital reported.
Kittipong Kittikachorn, the airport general manager, divulged initial investigation findings, postulating that the fatal victim, Kitchen, likely suffered from a cardiac ailment. The autopsy is ongoing.
Among the injured, several had broken arms, while others bore cuts and bruises.
Goh Choon Phong, Singapore Airlines' CEO, conveyed his condolences to Kitchen's relatives in a Facebook video statement. Revealing dampened spirits, he expressed his sympathy for the traumatic encounter and mentioned the airline's commitment to working with authorities on the inquiry.
The Ministry of Transport in Singapore oversees the investigation, collaborating with their Thai counterparts by sending investigators to Bangkok. The National Transportation Safety Board of the USA despatched a representative, along with four technical consultants, to assist the Singaporean inquiry.
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In the aftermath of the turbulent incident, concerned individuals worldwide expressed their sympathy and prayers for the victims and their families. This global outpouring of support highlighted the interconnected nature of the world, with people from diverse backgrounds and cultures uniting in times of adversity.
Furthermore, the incident brought into sharp focus the importance of air safety regulations in Asia, prompting calls for enhanced protocols and procedures to ensure the well-being of passengers during travels across the continent.
Source: edition.cnn.com
