Early this morning, Singapore Airlines flight SQ321 from London to Singapore encountered severe turbulence, resulting in one passenger's death due to a heart attack and injuries to 30 others.
The aircraft, a Boeing 777-300ER, had to make an emergency landing in Bangkok. The turbulence struck while the cabin crew was serving breakfast over the Andaman Sea near Myanmar, causing the plane to drop 6,000 feet in three minutes from 37,000 feet to 31,000 feet. It landed in Bangkok within half an hour.
Severe turbulence, the second-highest intensity on a six-category scale, involves abrupt changes in aircraft altitude and attitude, making the aircraft momentarily uncontrollable and causing unsecured objects and passengers to be violently thrown about. It is a rare occurrence, as emphasized by pilot Steve Cornell, who noted that in 15,000 flight hours, he had encountered severe turbulence only once.
Turbulence is caused by disturbed air movement, either thermal or mechanical, and can be difficult to predict, especially clear air turbulence. Crews prepare by studying weather forecasts and monitoring radar, but unexpected turbulence can leave little time to react. New technologies are being developed to detect and mitigate turbulence, but these require extensive testing and airline investment.
During the incident, passengers and crew were tossed around, causing injuries and damage inside the cabin, with some hitting the ceiling and suffering concussions and gashes. The incident highlights the importance of wearing seatbelts at all times when seated. The relief flight carried 131 passengers and 12 crew from Bangkok to Singapore, arriving safely. An investigation by Singapore's Transport Safety Investigation Bureau and the U.S. National Transportation Safety Board is underway.
Experts suggest that climate change might increase turbulence, although more research is needed. The turbulence occurred in an area known for thunderstorms, and pilots often navigate around such weather.
According to AccuWeather, the turbulence was likely caused by rapid updrafts from developing thunderstorms, which can leave little time for pilots to react.
Turbulence is a common cause of airline accidents, accounting for a third of such incidents according to a 2021 NTSB study. Although Singapore Airlines has a strong safety record, the incident underscores the unpredictable nature of turbulence and the necessity for passengers to follow safety guidelines, including wearing seatbelts.