The passenger who died onboard a Singapore Airlines jet travelling from the UK today was a 73-year-old British man, Thai officials have confirmed.
After around 11 hours of flying time from take off in London, the aircraft hit an air pocket and sharply dropped 6,000 feet in five minutes, unleashing mayhem and forcing it to make an emergency landing at Bangkok’s Suvarnabhumi airport.
Terrified passengers have described how they had little warning to put their seatbelts on before the aircraft suddenly dropped while the crew were serving breakfast, with one passenger saying people were ‘launched into the ceiling’ as the plane fell through the sky.
Of the plane’s 211 passengers and 18 crew, one person was left dead and 23 were injured. Of those, officials said seven suffered critical head injuries.
Suvarnabhumi airport general manager Kittipong Kittikachorn told a press conference that the deceased was a 73-year-old British man who was travelling with his wife. He likely suffered a heart attack, the official said.
The man’s name was not immediately released. Kittikachorn added that the pensioner’s wife is also in hospital, but that her condition was unknown.
Passengers have described how the plane dropped in mid-air as it encountered extreme turbulence near Myanmar airspace.
Moreover, aviation experts emphasize that turbulence, though common, can vary in severity. In this case, the Singapore Airlines Turbulence incident was particularly intense. Turbulence forecasting technology has improved, yet it remains an imperfect science. Airlines rely on real-time weather data and pilot reports to navigate these challenges.
In conclusion, the Singapore Airlines Turbulence incident serves as a stark reminder of the inherent risks of air travel. While rare, severe turbulence can have devastating consequences. Therefore, it is imperative for airlines to invest in better forecasting tools and implement rigorous safety measures.
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