Singapore Airlines Turbulence – Key Facts

May 22, 2024

Singapore Airlines Flight SQ321, which was going from London to Singapore on May 21, 2024, ran into bad weather over Myanmar’s Irrawaddy Basin. A terrible accident happened. About 10 hours into the flight, during lunch service, the Boeing 777-300ER started moving very quickly and violently. 71 people were hurt, and a 73-year-old British tourist died because the event may have made his heart condition worse.

Sequence of Events During the Flight

The shaking happened quickly after the seatbelt signs went on, surprising both the passengers and the crew. People who were in the cabin say that it was a mess, with personal things and service items flying around everywhere. The inside of the plane was badly damaged, including the overhead compartments and the roof of the galley.

Emergency Response and Landing

Because of the rough weather, the captain called for a medical emergency and sent the plane to Bangkok’s Suvarnabhumi International Airport. When they landed, emergency services took care of the hurt people. Geoff Kitchen, a passenger who later died from his injuries, got first aid right away from other passengers and later from medical workers on the ground.

Casualties and Injuries

Six of the 71 people who were hurt were seriously hurt. The fact that people from different countries were hurt shows how foreign the flight was. Geoff Kitchen’s death was a sad warning of how dangerous it is to be in situations with such rare but violent turbulence.

Investigation and Insights into Turbulence

Soon after the accident, Singapore’s Ministry of Transport and the US National Transportation Safety Board both began reviews. Initial reports suggest that the plane experienced severe turbulence that was out of the ordinary. This may have been caused by rapidly developing thunderstorms over southern Myanmar, which happens a lot when the monsoon season starts in South Asia.

More About Boeing 777-300ER

The first Boeing 777-300ER flight took place on February 24, 2003. It was part of the bigger 777 family and began using by Air France in 2004. It can go as far as 7,370 nautical miles, thanks to its two General Electric GE90-115B engines, which are the most powerful jet engines in the world. In a two-class arrangement, the plane can hold up to 396 people. It has curved wingtips to make it more aerodynamic. Fly-by-wire control systems are one of its features, and it was the first Boeing plane to have an Electronic Flight Bag (EFB), which helps pilots with tracking and real-time data. Also, the 777-300ER can move a lot of cargo; it can fit 44 LD3 containers. The plane can take off with a maximum weight of 775,000 pounds thanks to its strong landing gear system. This type is known for using less fuel than other planes of the same size and range.

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