Mid-flight drama: plane crash, passenger killed, turbulence… what we know about the Singapore Airlines Boeing accident

One person died and 30 others were injured on a Singapore Airlines plane that experienced severe turbulence en route from London to Singapore. He had to land urgently on May 21, 2024 in Bangkok.

Flight tracking data indicates the Boeing fell more than 1,800 meters in just five minutes over the Andaman Sea.

The aircraft of flight SQ321 took off from London's Heathrow airport and encountered "heavy turbulence" en route, Singapore Airlines explained.

"We can confirm that there are injuries and one fatality on board the Boeing 777-300ER. There were a total of 211 passengers and 18 crew members", the airline said on Facebook.

One dead and dozens injured

Kittipong Kittikachorn, the director of Suvarnabhumi Airport, said the passenger who died was a 73-year-old British man.

He added that most of the injured suffered from head impacts and that seven of them were in critical condition.

A total of 30 passengers and crew members suffered injuries in the incident, Singapore Airlines and the airport reported.

A Singapore Airlines Boeing 777-312(ER) aircraft (9V-SWM) operating flight SQ321 from London (LHR) to Singapore (SIN) hit an air pocket and made an emergency landing at Suvarnabhumi Airport, Bangkok (BKK) at 3:34 pm today. Initial reports indicate 20 people were injured.… pic.twitter.com/G4TH7Vs2xX

— FL360aero (@fl360aero) May 21, 2024

"We sincerely apologize for the traumatic experience experienced by our passengers and crew members on this flight. We provide all necessary assistance during this difficult period", assured the airline.

pic.twitter.com/N55k2M57QX

— FL360aero (@fl360aero) May 21, 2024

This is the latest incident involving a Boeing, after the explosion of a fuselage panel of an Alaska Airlines 737 MAX in January, as well as two fatal crashes in 2018 and 2019.

It occurred at a time when parts of Thailand were experiencing thunderstorms at the very beginning of the rainy season.

Singapore sends investigators

"At 3:35 p.m. (08:35 GMT), the airport received a distress call from the plane of the Singapore Airlines flight indicating that there were passengers on board injured by turbulence and requesting an emergency landing", Suvarnabhumi Airport said in a statement.

This is the end result in Cabin after the Singapore Airlines Boeing 777-300ER (9V-SWM) from London to Singapore plunged around 7,000 feet after experiencing severe turbulence.#turbulence #aviation #safety https://t.co/pyjl4QrrA1 pic.twitter.com/n9Jw7PO59G

— FL360aero (@fl360aero) May 21, 2024

At 3:45 p.m. local time (08:45 a.m. GMT), the Boeing 777 landed on the runway and ambulances rushed towards him, sirens blaring and flashing lights lit.

Scientists say climate change is likely to cause more turbulence, invisible to radar.

More and more turbulence

According to a study carried out in 2023, the annual duration of turbulence increased by 17% between 1979 and 2020 and severe turbulence, which is rarer, by more than 50%.< /p>

Singapore's Transport Ministry announced it was sending investigators to Bangkok and the city-state's president, Tharman Shanmugaratnam, said & quot;pray" for the injured to recover.

"We extend our deepest condolences to the family who lost a loved one and our thoughts are with the passengers and crew", Boeing reacted on the social network /p>

Boeing multiplies scandals

The American aviation giant is shaken by multiple crises linked to production and quality control problems, which led to the departure of its CEO Dave Calhoun.

By May 28, Boeing must deliver to the American aviation regulator, the FAA – which froze indefinitely the production of the 737 MAX –, a "complete action plan" to remedy the numerous problems of non-compliance.

At the same time, this company must negotiate with the International Union of Machinists and Aerospace Workers (IAM) the collective agreement which will replace the one expiring in September.