Singapore Airlines
Passenger: "Objects flew around the cabin"
Oskar Forsberg
Updated 21.20 | Published 15.44
British national Geoffrey Kitchen, 73, died and several others were injured after severe turbulence on a plane bound for Singapore from London.
Now passengers tell about the horror from inside the cabin.
- There were horrendous screams, says passenger Andrew to the BBC.
Singapore Airlines is currently holding a press conference after the severe turbulence that hit one of the airline's planes.
One person died and 30 were injured. According to Thai media, one more person has died. However, it is currently unconfirmed.
According to Sky News, the person who died, 73-year-old British man Geoffrey Kitchen, suffered a heart attack.
This is reported by several British media.
His wife Linda is currently being treated in hospital, according to The Sun.
The couple were on their way on their dream vacation when the turbulence hit. They were going to Singapore, Indonesia, Japan and Australia.
Geoffrey Kitchen, 73, suffered a heart attack and died after the turmoil.
Lost 1,800 meters of altitude in a short time
The BBC has spoken to some people who were on board. A passenger says that the aircraft suddenly fell downwards.
According to flight data, the plane lost about 6,000 feet in altitude in just a few minutes. This corresponds to approximately 1,800 meters.
The fall caused by the severe turbulence caused objects to fly around the cabin.
- I was covered in coffee, said passenger Andrew Davies from Lewisham to the BBC.
He continues:
- There were horrific screams for a few seconds when the plane fell heavily. There was also a loud bang.
Andrew Davies writes on Twitter that one of the plane's crew allegedly told him that the turbulence was the worst they had experienced in 30 years.
Had to land in Bangkok
When the fall subsided a bit, passenger Andrew says he managed to help a woman who was screaming in pain after receiving a heavy bleeding jack in the head.
Another passenger told the Reuters news agency that people who were not wearing their seat belts flew up and hit their heads in the luggage compartments above the seats.
There were 211 passengers and 18 crew members on flight SQ321, Singapore Airlines said in a statement earlier today.
The aircraft, a Boeing 777-300ER, was forced to deviate from its route and land in Bangkok.
They landed there at 15.45 local time.
Earlier today, Singapore Airlines held a press conference where they informed about the incident.
About 30 people were injured in the plane.
At least one person died during the severe turbulence.
1 / 2Photo: East2west News
Several to hospital
It was written that 18 people were hospitalized. A further 12 people are being treated for injuries.
The remaining passengers and crew are currently at the airport in Bangkok.
Several passengers are helped by the aircraft, including in wheelchairs.
“Singapore Airlines extends its deepest condolences to the family of the deceased. We regret the traumatic experience our passengers and crew members were subjected to on this flight. We provide all necessary assistance during this difficult time," the company writes in a press release.
Singapore Airlines also states that it will continue to fly the remaining passengers to Singapore this evening local time.
FACTS
Turbulence
There are two types of turbulence: shakes and so-called air pits.
- What are usually called air pits are upward and downward movements. They can feel uncomfortable and can be dangerous if you are not strapped in or if heavy objects are loose, but for the fuselage they pose no danger. During airworthiness certification, all aircraft models have been subjected to significantly stronger stresses in order to be approved.
- Air pits occur when clouds form and the air moves vertically up and down with high wind speeds. They usually increase in intensity the closer you fly to the equator.
- Shaking that feels like riding on a washboard. The vibrations can strain the aircraft's construction over time, therefore the aircraft is inspected externally before each flight, to check that no damage has occurred during previous flights.
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