A British pensioner tragically lost his life after intense turbulence rocked a flight from London, interrupting breakfast service for passengers. The Singapore Airlines Boeing jet nosedived 7,000 feet within six minutes, causing widespread panic as passengers were hurled from their seats and into overhead compartments.
Flight SQ321 departed from London Heathrow shortly after 10 PM on Monday, carrying 211 passengers and 18 crew members. Nearly 11 hours into the 13-hour journey to Singapore, the plane encountered severe turbulence, catching everyone off guard as they ate breakfast. The violent shaking caused a 73-year-old British man, seated in premium economy with his wife, to suffer a possible heart attack. Sadly, he did not survive. Additionally, 30 others were injured, with seven in critical condition.
Boeing released a statement on Tuesday, expressing deep condolences to the deceased passenger’s family and offering thoughts to all affected passengers and crew. The flight was diverted to Suvarnabhumi International Airport in Bangkok, where it made an emergency landing shortly before 4 PM local time, although it was originally scheduled to land at Singapore’s Changi Airport at 6:10 PM.
According to flight tracking data from FlightRadar24, the Boeing 777-300ER descended sharply from 38,000 feet to 31,000 feet near the Andaman Sea as it approached Thailand. Dramatic images captured the aftermath, showing food, drinks, and cutlery scattered across the plane’s galley, evidence of the violent turbulence.
One passenger described the chaotic scene to Reuters, recounting how individuals not wearing seatbelts were flung into the overhead cabins. The turbulence was so severe that ceiling panels were torn apart, revealing exposed pipes, and a flight attendant was seen with blood streaming from her nose.
Upon landing, passengers appeared visibly shaken as paramedics and staff assisted them off the aircraft, many in wheelchairs or on stretchers, some with neck braces. Dzafran Azmir, a 28-year-old student, described the ordeal, mentioning how the plane suddenly tilted and then dramatically dropped, causing unrestrained passengers to hit the ceiling and overhead compartments.
Andrew Davies, another passenger, praised the air stewards for their stoic efforts during the chaos, noting the minimal warning before the plane’s sudden descent.
A fleet of 13 ambulances responded at the Bangkok airport, with images showing emergency vehicles lined up on the tarmac. The airport’s general manager described a scene of “panic and chaos” upon the plane’s arrival. Investigators believe an air pocket may have caused the severe turbulence.
A spokesperson for Singapore Airlines confirmed the fatality and multiple injuries, stating that 18 individuals had been hospitalized, with another 12 receiving treatment at local hospitals. The remaining passengers and crew were being assessed and treated as necessary at Suvarnabhumi International Airport. Singapore Airlines extended its deepest condolences to the family of the deceased and emphasized their commitment to providing all possible assistance to those affected, working closely with Thai authorities and dispatching a support team to Bangkok.
Local media reports indicated that extreme tropical thunderstorms have been prevalent in the region, contributing to the turbulent conditions faced by the flight.
