A regular flight operated by Singapore Airlines from London to Singapore transformed into a horrific scene as it encountered extreme turbulence, leading to the death of a British passenger and injuries to many others.
Singapore Airlines flight SQ321, carrying 211 passengers and 18 crew members, departed from London’s Heathrow Airport on Monday, May 20, 2024. Roughly 10 hours into the trip, the Boeing 777-300ER experienced extreme turbulence over the Irrawaddy Basin in Myanmar, causing the plane to drop around 6,000 feet in mere minutes. Passengers reported a scene of chaos as the plane suddenly dipped, hurling some individuals into the ceiling and overhead compartments.
Geoffrey Kitchen, a 73-year-old British man who was aboard the flight traveling to Australia with his wife for a six-week holiday, sadly lost his life. It is suspected that Kitchen, an amateur dramatics performer, suffered a heart attack during the incident.
In a social media post, the Thornbury Musical Theatre Group stated, “It is with a heavy heart that we learn of the devastating news of the passing of our esteemed colleague and friend Geoff Kitchen in the recent Singapore Air Incident. Geoff was consistently a gentleman, known for his exceptional honesty and integrity, always acting in the best interest of the group.”
In an official statement, Singapore Airlines expressed its condolences to the family of the deceased and confirmed its full cooperation with relevant authorities investigating the incident. “Our deepest sympathies go out to Mr. Kitchen’s family. Our priority is to provide support to all affected passengers and crew members,” the airline stated.
Boeing, the company that produced the 777-300ER, also offered its condolences to the Kitchen family and confirmed that it is in communication with Singapore Airlines to provide support. “We stand ready to assist in any way we can,” said a representative from Boeing.
Photographs from the plane showed the cabin in a state of disarray, with bloodstains on overhead compartments and debris scattered across the floor. Upon landing at Bangkok’s Suvarnabhumi Airport at 3:45 PM local time, emergency personnel were ready to assist. Injured passengers were immediately attended to by medical teams and transported to local hospitals.
Andrew Davies, a passenger from London, spoke to local media about his experience during the incident. “I was covered in coffee. During the brief moments of the plane’s descent, passengers heard horrifying screams and a loud thud,” he shared.
Several passengers who sustained injuries during the turbulence recounted their unsettling experiences inside the aircraft. A passenger named Jerry, who was traveling with his family and suffered head injuries, said, “It was absolutely terrible. My wife and daughter were also injured. Some unfortunate passengers walking around ended up being thrown into somersaults.”
Dzafran Azmir, a 28-year-old student, shared that some passengers hit their heads on the overhead baggage compartments, causing dents and breaking through lights and oxygen masks.
Kittipong Kittikachorn, the general manager of Suvarnabhumi Airport, reported that seven passengers sustained severe injuries, while 23 passengers and nine crew members suffered moderate injuries. 104 people were treated at Samitivej Srinakarin Hospital, with 58 remaining in care, including 20 critically injured. The discrepancy in the number of injured passengers is still unexplained.
Singapore’s Minister for Transport, Chee Hong Tat, expressed his sadness over the incident, stating, “We are deeply saddened to learn about this tragic event. We are providing support to the affected passengers and their families.”
FlightRadar24 tracking data revealed that the aircraft sent out a squawk code of 7700, an international distress signal. The plane was seen dropping from 37,000 feet to 31,000 feet within three minutes. After stabilizing at 31,000 feet, the plane descended again before making an emergency landing in Bangkok.
Aviation experts have noted that while turbulence is a common occurrence in aviation, the severity of this incident was uncommon. Clear-air turbulence, which can take place without any visible weather phenomena, poses a significant threat as it cannot be detected with current technology.
Singapore Airlines has experienced turbulence-related issues in the past, but fatalities are infrequent. The last significant incident not turbulence-related occurred in 2000 when a Boeing 747 crashed during takeoff from an incorrect runway in Taiwan, leading to 83 deaths.
