Singapore Airlines plane shook for 5 seconds, black box data reveals

Initial investigations into the severe turbulence that occurred on a Singapore Airlines flight last Tuesday found that the plane accelerated rapidly and fell about 178ft (54m) in 4, 6 seconds.

A British passenger died and dozens of others were injured when a London – Singapore flight encountered turbulence over Myanmar and had to be diverted to Thailand.

Singapore investigators extracted data stored in the plane’s flight data recorder and cockpit voice recorder.

Singapore Airlines said it is cooperating with investigators and providing support to affected passengers and crew, including medical and hospital expenses.

Initial findings by the Traffic Safety Investigation Bureau (TSIB) show that there was rapid up and down acceleration – causing injuries to people not wearing seat belts, who stood up from their seats and fell.

The agency said the flight operated normally until it was able to fly over an area of ​​”developing convective activity” as it passed over southern Myanmar at an altitude of 37,000ft (11,300m).

At 07:49:40 GMT, it briefly accelerated downward for more than 0.6 seconds, which probably “resulted in the occupants not wearing seatbelts and becoming airborne”.

The plane then accelerated upward for four seconds, meaning those flying in the air fell.

Aviation expert Dr Guy Gratton told the BBC that the effect could be likened to “putting an egg in a metal box, then shaking the box up and down”.

“After the pilots were informed by the cabin crew that there were injured passengers in the cabin, the decision was made to divert to Suvarnabhumi Airport, Bangkok, Thailand,” the report continued.

About 17 minutes after the turbulence event, the pilots were able to “make a controlled landing from an altitude of 37,000 ft”, adding that the plane did not encounter any further severe turbulence during the transition. towards Bangkok.

The pilots also requested that medical services meet the plane upon arrival.

TSIB, an agency under Singapore’s Ministry of Transport, said investigations are underway.

There were 211 passengers and 18 crew members on Boeing 777-300ER aircraftAccording to Singapore Airlines.

Geoff Kitchen, 73, died of a suspected heart attack on the plane, while 104 other passengers were taken to Samitivej Hospital in Bangkok for treatment.

Ali Bukhari, 27, who was sitting with his wife Ramiza, told the BBC that the plane had “freefalled”.

“It’s scary. It’s like going down a vertical roller coaster,” he said.

“The oxygen mask came off, parts inside the plane were damaged… I thought it was due to turbulence, but mostly it was because someone who wasn’t wearing a seat belt flew straight into the air and hit the ceiling.

“We saw blood on the ceiling… It was completely devastated. A lot of people were on the floor.”

Singapore Airlines said it was committed to supporting the crew members and passengers on Tuesday’s flight.

“This includes covering their medical and hospital expenses, as well as any additional support they may need,” the airline said on social media.

“The safety and health of our passengers and staff is our top priority.

“We appreciate the invaluable support of the governments of Singapore and Thailand, as well as our many partners and medical teams in both countries and around the world.”

Last Thursday, Samitivej Hospital director Srinakarin said staff initially treated six people with skull and brain injuries, 22 people with spinal injuries and 13 people with bone, muscle and other injuries. other.

“We have had never treated people injured by turbulence like this,” Adinun Kittiratanapaibool told reporters.

According to Singapore Airlines, as of Wednesday, 42 passengers on the flight were still in Bangkok, of whom 26 were in hospital for medical treatment.