Geoff Kitchen : “20 People in Intensive Care After Singapore Airlines Flight”

Accident – Death – Obituary News : : 1. Singapore Airlines flight incident
2. Intensive care patients after flight incident

A Singapore Airlines flight from London to Singapore experienced extreme turbulence over Myanmar, causing an elderly passenger to die and injuring over 100 people. The plane made an emergency landing in Bangkok, where 20 passengers were in intensive care. The chaotic scene inside the cabin included dents in the ceiling and passengers thrown around violently. The injured were from various countries, with a British man losing his life. Singapore Airlines expressed condolences and promised a thorough investigation. Experts warn that climate change may increase clear air turbulence, making flying conditions more unpredictable. This incident highlights the importance of following safety protocols on commercial flights.

The Terrifying High-Altitude Plunge in Bangkok

Twenty people were in intensive care in Bangkok hospitals on Wednesday after a harrowing high-altitude plunge on a flight from London during which an elderly passenger tragically passed away and more than 100 were injured. Singapore Airlines flight SQ321 encountered “sudden extreme turbulence” over Myanmar 10 hours into its journey to Singapore on Tuesday, abruptly rising and plunging several times.

Chaos at 37,000 Feet

One passenger recounted how people were thrown around the cabin so violently that they ended up putting dents in the ceiling during the chaos at 11,300 meters (37,000 feet), resulting in dozens sustaining head injuries. Images from inside the aircraft depict a scene of pandemonium, with the cabin littered with food, drink bottles, and luggage, and oxygen masks dangling from the ceiling.

Emergency Landing in Bangkok

The plane, carrying 211 passengers and 18 crew members, was forced to make an emergency landing at Bangkok’s Suvarnabhumi Airport. Medical staff swiftly sprung into action, using gurneys to transport the injured to waiting ambulances on the tarmac. One passenger described the ordeal as follows: “I was flung up to the roof and then as the plane dropped forward, so did I. I then hit the floor quite hard and all the breakfast items and glass flew forward as well. The poor crew was preparing breakfast for everyone, so they got the worst injuries.”

Tragic Loss and Numerous Injuries

A 73-year-old British man sadly lost his life, while 104 individuals sustained injuries on the flight. A hospital in Bangkok disclosed that its medical team was attending to, or had treated, 85 of the injured, with 20 people currently in intensive care units. The 20 individuals hailed from Australia, Britain, Hong Kong, Malaysia, New Zealand, Singapore, and the Philippines.

Airline’s Response and Investigation

Singapore Airlines’ chief executive expressed deep regret for the traumatic experience endured by those onboard and extended condolences to the family of the deceased. Singapore’s Prime Minister also conveyed his condolences, with the city-state dispatching investigators to Bangkok to investigate the incident. The airline revealed that of the passengers, 56 were Australian, 47 British, and 41 Singaporean.

Climate Change and Turbulence

Scientists have long warned about the potential impact of climate change on clear air turbulence, which is invisible to radar. A recent study found that the annual duration of clear air turbulence has been on the rise, with the most severe cases increasing significantly. This incident serves as a stark reminder of the potential dangers posed by such turbulence in the skies.