Exclusive
OUT OF THE BLUE
Rare turbulence death on Boeing jet shows plunge came from NOWHERE…keeping belt on is annoying but vital, expert says
Watch our exclusive interview with aviation expert and former RAF pilot David Learmount
AN ex-RAF pilot has revealed how many people - including cabin crew - were not wearing seatbelts when the deadly turbulence smashed the Singapore Airlines flight.
Aviation expert David Learmount said the tragedy should serve as a reminder to passengers and flight crew about how crucial seatbelts are to in-flight safety.
9
9
9
9
9
The former RAF pilot then warned that although uncomfortable, passengers should have their seatbelts fastened to avoid any major injuries should any unexpected events happen mid-air.
Mr Learmount told The Sun: "Now the indication there is that the crew didn't know this turbulence was coming, or they weren't expecting it to be anything like it actually turned out to be.
"So everybody on the aircraft was relatively unprepared, and that's dangerous.
"If you have your seatbelt loosely fastened at all times, this kind of disaster will not happen to you.
More on Boeing incidents
"It would be very uncomfortable, but at least you won't get thrown at the ceiling."
The Singapore Airlines flight had left London Heathrow shortly after 10pm on Monday with 211 passengers and 18 crew members on board.
There were multiple injures onboard flight SQ321 to Singapore, and the death of a 73-year-old British granddad.
Geoff Kitchen, 73, died of a heart attack after the Boeing jet plunged 7,000ft in just six minutes sparking mid-air panic.
Most read in The Sun
Passengers were eating their breakfast when violent turbulence sent them flying up and out of their seats into the ceiling.
‘Brit, 73,’ killed in turbulence on Singapore Airlines jet
Shocking pictures taken onboard showed people slumped in chairs with smashed noses and bloody faces, with ceilings ripped apart and dents in overhead lockers where bodies had slammed into them.
Unfinished meals were seen strewn across the galley kitchen of the plane, along with kettles, rubbish, and bottles of wine.
Mr Learmount explained that the severity of the turbulence was "very rare", and hardly any prior instances had led to the death of a passenger.
Those onboard the flight would not have "come to any harm" - even if the turbulence had been terrible and all of the catering trolleys had been out - if they had been strapped in, the expert claimed.
He said: "But just looking at some of the early data that's coming out with regard to this, it sounds absolutely terrifying.
"Six thousand feet - that's 2,000 metres - in a matter of minutes, the airliner appears to have dropped.
"That is something that would be a really horrifying experience to go through."
In all of his years as a RAF pilot, Mr Learmount said he had never experienced the type of violent turbulence that might see a plane drop 6,000 feet - or 7,000 feet, according to flight tracker figures.
The packed Boeing jet was smashed with turbulence yesterday as passengers ate their breakfast, officials said.
The flight was diverted to the Suvarnabhumi International Airport in Bangkok where it made an emergency landing shortly before 4pm local time.
One person onboard said that passengers were not wearing their seatbelts when the turbulence suddenly jolted the plane.
Andrew Davies told BBC Radio 5 Live there was "very little warning", adding "the seatbelt sign came on, I put on my seatbelt straight away then the plane just dropped".
He said: "Lesson is - wear a seatbelt at all times. Anyone who is injured was not wearing a seatbelt. People who kept them on (including me) are not (as far as I could tell)."
Mr Davies added the plane "suddenly dropped" with "very little warning".
He said: "The thing I remember the most is seeing objects and things flying through the air.
"I was covered in coffee. It was incredibly severe turbulence.
"During the few seconds of the plane dropping there was an awful screaming and what sounded like a thud."
Mr Davies added that when the seat belt sign came on, he followed the instruction, and "at that very moment, the plane suddenly dropped".
The passenger said he helped a woman who was "screaming in agony" after suffering a "gash on her head", adding that there were "so many injured people" including some with head lacerations and bleeding ears.
In a post on social media, Mr Davies added: "Lots of people injured - including the air stewards who were stoic and did everything they could.
"People's belongings scattered, coffee and water splattered the ceiling. Surreal.
"So many injured people, head lacerations, bleeding ears.
"A lady was screaming in pain with a bad back. I couldn't help her - just got her water."
Mr Davies said there was "very little warning", adding "the seatbelt sign came on, I put on my seatbelt straight away then the plane just dropped".
He said: "Lesson is - wear a seatbelt at all times. Anyone who is injured was not wearing a seatbelt. People who kept them on (including me) are not (as far as I could tell)."
Mr Davies said the emergency services in Bangkok were "quick to respond" to the incident after the flight was diverted to the city's Suvarnabhumi Airport.
Student Dzafran Azmir, 28, who was also on the flight, told Reuters: "Suddenly the aircraft starts tilting up and there was shaking so I started bracing for what was happening, and very suddenly there was a very dramatic drop, so everyone seated and not wearing a seatbelt was launched immediately into the ceiling.
"Some people hit their heads on the baggage cabin overhead and dented it, they hit the places where lights and masks are and broke straight through it."
Australian Teandra Tukhunen said she was asleep when she "was woken up because I was thrown to the roof and then to the floor" at Samitivej Srinakarin Hospital in Bangkok.
The 30-year-old, who had her left arm in a sling at the hospital, added that she was pushed to the roof before she had a chance to fasten her seatbelt.
"It was just so quick, over in a couple of seconds and then you're just shocked. Everyone's pretty freaked out".
"Life happens," she replied when asked if it was scary.
"Things happen. The pilots saved our lives, that's all that matters in the end."
Following what he described as "quite scary" experience, passenger Joshua said, "I don't think I'll be flying again for a while".
He recalled hearing "one huge loud noise, things were coming through the ceiling, water everywhere, people crying… it wasn't a fun end to the journey" while he was lying on a trolley in the same hospital.
Joshua said he was in "a lot of pain" and felt much worse after the news of the passenger's death "sunk in".
Singapore Airlines said on Tuesday afternoon: "We can confirm that there are multiple injuries and one fatality on board the Boeing 777-300ER aircraft.
"As of 1950hrs Singapore time on 21 May 2024, 18 individuals have been hospitalised. Another 12 are being treated in hospitals."
The flag carrier added: "Singapore Airlines offers its deepest condolences to the family of the deceased.
"Our priority is to provide all possible assistance to all passengers and crew on board the aircraft.
"We are working with the local authorities in Thailand to provide the necessary medical assistance, and sending a team to Bangkok to provide any additional assistance needed."
Boeing also released a statement on Tuesday, stating: "We extend our deepest condolences to the family who lost a loved one and our thoughts are with the passengers and crew."
Meanwhile, a grandfather hurt on the deadly flight described his terrifying ordeal at a Bangkok hospital attempting to find his wife, daughter, and grandson.
GRANDAD'S HOSPITAL ORDEAL
Jerry, a 68-year-old who talked with the BBC without revealing his last name, called today the "worst day of my life."
According to him, medical officials took the most seriously injured passengers off the plane first once it landed in Bangkok.
He said: "I ended up in the hospital and obviously, because of the situation, it was fairly chaotic.
"Things were going very smoothly at first. I had just been to the loo, came back and sat down [before experiencing a] bit of turbulence.
"Suddenly the plane plunged, I don't know how far but it was a long way and so sudden. There was no warning at all.
"I ended up hitting my head on the ceiling [and] my wife did. Some poor people walking around ended up doing somersaults, it was absolutely terrible.
"Suddenly it stopped, and it was calm again. The staff did their best to tend to the injured people, there were a lot of them.
"Some of the staff were injured themselves, so they did a sterling job.
"Eventually they told us we'd divert to Bangkok, which was a huge relief."
Jerry revealed that the horrific event forced his family to cancel their plans to attend his son's wedding.
"We were going to my son's wedding, and that was supposed to be on Friday," he said.
READ MORE SUN STORIES
"If we continued out itinerary, that would mean five consecutive flights. We're not going to do that, we're going to go straight back. It's just unfortunate.
"The bad experience that my wife and daughter had, and my own experience, [means] we can't stomach another five flights."
Turbulence deaths are rare tragedies
By Lisa Minot, Head of Travel
THE idea that a flier can be killed by turbulence will strike fear into the hearts of many who have experienced it on a flight.
Nervous fliers often cite the terrifying experience of turbulence as the reason they are so scared of taking to the skies. Even the most confident flyer can feel panic when a plane begins to rattle and roll.
But in reality, this is a relatively rare occurrence. There have been just 38 deaths in the last 15 years, with another 30 passengers and 116 crew seriously injured. Compare that to the more than 4.4billion people who take to the skies each year around the world.
Jet streams, atmospheric pressure and storms are the most common reasons for turbulence but the most dangerous is clear air turbulence as pilots have no warning and time to put seabelt signs on.
However, just three percent of flights experience light turbulence, one per cent of them get moderate episodes and mere tenths of one percent experience severe issues.
When moderate or severe turbulence does lead to injuries, it is passengers not wearing their seatbelt or standing in aisles or toilets who are most at risk.
Keeping your seatbelt on for the entire flight is the most sensible way to ensure that should the worst happen, you are taking the best precautions possible.
9
9
9
9
Topics