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Singapore, May 28 - Singapore’s Transport Safety Investigation Bureau (TSIB), under the Ministry of Transport, issued an interim update stating that the investigation into a severe turbulence incident involving Singapore Airlines Flight SQ321 remains ongoing. The incident, which occurred on May 21, 2024, marked a tragic milestone as the first turbulence-related fatality in civil aviation in 25 years. The Boeing 777-300ER, en route from London to Singapore with 211 passengers and 18 crew members, encountered sudden and extreme turbulence over Myanmar’s Irrawaddy Basin at 37,000 feet, leading to one passenger’s death and injuries to 79 others.
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The flight was diverted to Bangkok’s Suvarnabhumi Airport for an emergency landing, where medical teams treated passengers and crew for injuries ranging from fractures to spinal cord and brain damage. The turbulence event, which lasted just 4.6 seconds, caused a rapid change in gravitational force, shifting from negative 1.5G to positive 1.5G, resulting in a 178-foot altitude drop. This abrupt shift caused unbelted passengers and crew to become airborne before crashing back down, leading to severe injuries, including head wounds and spinal damage.
The aircraft’s interior sustained visible damage, with overhead panels gashed, oxygen masks deployed, and luggage strewn across the cabin. Preliminary findings from the TSIB, released in May 2024, indicated that the turbulence was likely triggered by an uncommanded increase in airspeed and altitude, possibly due to an updraft from a developing thunderstorm. The investigation has since focused on analyzing the aircraft’s weather radar systems, with critical components sent to the United States for examination and testing. The ministry emphasized that a final report will be released only once this analysis is complete, underscoring the complexity of pinpointing the exact cause of the incident.
The incident has reignited discussions about aviation safety, particularly regarding seatbelt practices and turbulence forecasting. The tragedy, which claimed the life of a 73-year-old passenger due to a suspected heart attack, prompted Singapore Airlines to revise its in-flight seatbelt policies, encouraging passengers to remain belted whenever seated. The event also highlighted the growing concern over clear-air turbulence, which is difficult to detect with current technology and may become more frequent due to climate-driven changes in weather patterns. Experts note that severe turbulence incidents, while rare, are increasing, with studies projecting a potential doubling or tripling of such events in the coming decades. The investigation involves Singaporean authorities, as well as U.S. representatives from Boeing, the National Transportation Safety Board, and the Federal Aviation Administration, reflecting the international effort to understand and prevent future incidents. Singapore Airlines has cooperated fully, covering medical expenses and offering compensation to affected passengers, with all hospitalized individuals discharged and returned to their home countries by June 2024. The aviation industry continues to monitor the investigation’s progress, awaiting insights that could shape future safety protocols.