On Tuesday, passengers on a flight from London to Singapore experienced a nightmare. On their route, severe turbulence caused an emergency landing in Bangkok and the death of a passenger.

Orson Welles said it: “We only ever experience two emotions on a plane: boredom and fear. » On Tuesday, these words were revealed to be true. The passengers of flight SQ321 Singapore Airlinescoming from Londonlanded at Singapore this Wednesday morning. But yesterday, during its journey, the flight suffered turbulence described as “extreme and sudden”. HAS 11,000 meters above sea levelthe plane that counted 229 people on board entered a zone of disturbances and turbulence. Ten hours after takeoff, the craft rose then suddenly plunged several times.

Panic in the sky

The events took place yesterday, Tuesday, May 21. The plane of Flight SQ321 took off from London Heathrow Airport to get to Singapore . But theft, of which 211 passengers And 18 crew members were part of, was the scene of extreme turbulence who caused panic in the machine. The events took place above the Burmawhere the plane shook unpredictably. Passengers described intense shaking, with some being thrown from their seats. Loose objects also flew through the cabin. Food, suitcases, drinks, the pictures show a chaotic scene where fear is felt by everyone on board. Although this episode was traumatic, the crew members were praised for their professionalism and composure. They were able to calm the passengers and ensure their safety as best as possible throughout the ordeal.

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An emergency landing for flight SQ321

Due to the severity of the turbulence, the captain contacted Suvarnabhumi airport in Thailand on Tuesday morning, 3:35 p.m. local time. It was a distress call which indicated the need for a emergency landing in view of the many passengers injured. The landing took place without major incident. Once on the ground, the ambulances rushed to the device so that the injured can receive medical attention. The airport staff were also very helpful in sorting passengers into several groups according to their state of health.

Today, 131 passengers And 12 crew memberse, finally reached their destination putting foot on land in Singapore. If they are among the “lucky” ones, 85 individuals were injured on board including 20 who are currently in intensive care in Bangkok hospitals. Geoff Kitchena man of British origin lost his life in this accident. He was aged 73 years old and ran a theater near Bristol.

From a natural phenomenon to an investigation

“I would like to express my deepest condolences to the family and loved ones of the deceased,” said Koh Choon Phone in a video message today. Thus, the CEO of Singapore Airlines apologized on behalf of the company. Following this incident, a investigation has been opened to determine the exact causes of turbulence around the flight and assess whether adequate preventive measures were in place. The objective is to understand whether weather phenomena are to blame or if Improvements can be made to turbulence management protocols. The Prime Minister of Singapore, Lawrence Wong assured to work with the Thai authorities.

Passengers must be of good will. Unaware of the risk hanging over them, they take off their seat belts at the first opportunity. However, the testimonies of survivors show it: those who were attached during the turbulence were less injured than those who were detached.

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Rough flights and increasing turbulence

Turbulence is not an uncommon phenomenon in aviation. On the other hand, it is a phenomenon difficult to predict. According to experts, they would even be increasing due to climate change. Air turbulence generally forms when air masses of different temperatures and speeds meet. They can be caused by thunderstorms, air movements around mountains, or even jet streams, bands of strong winds circulating around the Earth at certain latitudes. These different events create differences in pressure and wind variations from which turbulence results.

In the case of flight SQ321the first analyzes indicated clear sky turbulence. These occur without visible sign like clouds, and are particularly dangerous. If the drivers use weather radars and reports from previous pilots to navigate these areas, turbulence is sometimes unpredictable. According to a 2021 report from the US National Transportation Safety Board, turbulence continues to be “a significant cause of accidents and injuries.”