One dead, 30 injured in Singapore Airlines emergency landing

[Rimmer]

Some off topic bickering posts have been removed

[PJ71]

1 hour ago, how241 said:

Seat belts should be required to be worn at all times, except for going to the  bathroom.

I believe they say this on every flight, that's it's recommended to be worn.

 

I guess people chose not to listen.

[Georgealbert]

Came across a few more pictures of the emergency response.

 

Ambulances at the RVP in the car park and being escorted airside.

 

Forward emergency incident command post at fire station, airside.

 

Triage area at the gate.

[Georgealbert]

AOT issues a thank you message and statement.

 

“Suvarnabhumi Airport (Suvarnabhumi Airport) would like to thank all relevant government and private agencies. for supporting the mission to help victims of the Singapore Airlines Flight SQ321 disaster. who experienced an accident when their plane fell into a turbulence and requested an emergency landing on the evening of May 21, including;

The Immigration Office,

Customs Department,

Samut Prakan Provincial Police Division.
Suvarnabhumi Airport Provincial Police Station

Royal Initiative Traffic Police Traffic Police Division,

Aeronautical Radio of Thailand Company Limited

Thai Airways International Public Company Limited and especially the following medical agencies

Samut Prakan Province Public Health

Samut Prakan Province Incident Reporting and Command Center

And hospitals within Samut Prakan Province including various rescue foundations

Samitivej Srinakarin Hospital 

Bangkok Hospital

Praram 9 Hospital

Piyavate Hospital

Vejthani Hospital

Thainakarin Hospital

Vibharam Hospital

Chularat 9 Hospital

Prince Suvarnabhumi Hospital“

 

Seems the airport multi agency emergency response plan went fairly well.

[Sheryl]

 

Good coverage here

[dinsdale]

 

[CG1 Blue]

2 hours ago, Sheryl said:

 

Some reports I have seen say that it was so sudden the cabin crew were not able to sit first. And every one quoted stressed how very sudden and without warning this event was. There was even someone in the lavatory as well as people enroute to it.

 

The suddenness and lack of prior warning (and hence, people in the lavatories, people in the aisles, people not seat-belted in) would explain the large number of injuries and their seriousness (6 of the hospitalized are listed as critical last I heard).

 

Apparently there are rare types of turbulence that would not show in advance on the plane's weather screen?? Anyway will take time to find out the details of what caused this and why not forseen in time to make a seat belt announcement etc.

 

The incident does certainly well illustrate why seat belt / remain setaed notifications should be taken seriously.

 

 

Exactly my thoughts and understanding of events. 

 

BBC radio just reported that 20 passengers are in intensive care. Not heard this anywhere else though, so hopefully it's not the case.

Although I guess some would be in ICU as a precaution and not necessarily in grave danger. 

 

That said, a lot of people were slammed head first into the ceiling or overhead instruments. Awful. 

[BangkokReady]

On 5/21/2024 at 6:11 PM, snoop1130 said:

severe weather encountered by the Singapore Airlines plane after it left London for Changi Airport led it to land at Suvarnabhumi Airport instead

 

Quite a bit after it left London, then?  🤔

[dinsdale]

8 minutes ago, CG1 Blue said:

Exactly my thoughts and understanding of events. 

 

BBC radio just reported that 20 passengers are in intensive care. Not heard this anywhere else though, so hopefully it's not the case.

Although I guess some would be in ICU as a precaution and not necessarily in grave danger. 

 

That said, a lot of people were slammed head first into the ceiling or overhead instruments. Awful. 

BBC YT vid above saying 6 critically injured. Down from previous number of 7. I think it's now very clear that no indication of this turbulence was known until it was too late. For me this indicates a clear weather turbulence event that the doplar radar failed to detect beforehand. As for the pilots there are no visual clues that turbulence may be ahead in a clear weather situation. 

[Paris333]

The Captain of the aircraft is responsible for the aircraft arriving safety at its destination and he is not responsible for the safety of passengers in the cabin.
The cabin staff -the flight attendants, are responsible for the safety of the passengers.

If you have noticed the flight attendants during taxing of the aircraft make presentation about the safety measures of the passengers during the flight.(how to wear your seat belt -oxygen mask etc).

Captain -Officer B -Officer C are all responsible for engines failures and navigation GPS system as well as TICTAS (only receiver radar of civil aviation to avoid collision with other aircafts in the air).

The civil aviation aircraft arrive at Suvarnabhumi airport withought any damage and with priority emergensy landing.

 

[still kicking]

1 hour ago, PJ71 said:

I believe they say this on every flight, that's it's recommended to be worn.

 

I guess people chose not to listen.

Well sometimes you need to go to the dunny 

[still kicking]

31 minutes ago, still kicking said:

Well sometimes you need to go to the dunny 

Well, whoever send me the sad emoji you must be pretty good not needing to go to the toilet on a long flight.

[Puccini]

1 hour ago, BangkokReady said:

 

Quite a bit after it left London, then?  🤔

 

Yes.

[Lokie]

RIP to the guy who passed, was on a holiday with his wife to Australia. there for the grace of god we all go, but yes when not needing the Dunnie or exercising to help prevent DVT, is a good practice to keep your seatbelt on as Cpts & XOs always advise over intercom at start of flight, good to see Swampy appeared to handle it well

[nrasmussen]

4 hours ago, Sheryl said:

 

Some reports I have seen say that it was so sudden the cabin crew were not able to sit first. And every one quoted stressed how very sudden and without warning this event was. There was even someone in the lavatory as well as people enroute to it.

 

The suddenness and lack of prior warning (and hence, people in the lavatories, people in the aisles, people not seat-belted in) would explain the large number of injuries and their seriousness (6 of the hospitalized are listed as critical last I heard).

 

Apparently there are rare types of turbulence that would not show in advance on the plane's weather screen?? Anyway will take time to find out the details of what caused this and why not forseen in time to make a seat belt announcement etc.

 

The incident does certainly well illustrate why seat belt / remain setaed notifications should be taken seriously.

 

 

 

This is all true. No argument from me. My comment was in response to a general observation and not specifically to this incident.

[dinsdale]

17 minutes ago, still kicking said:

Well, whoever send me the sad emoji you must be pretty good not needing to go to the toilet on a long flight.

Probably don't know what a dunny is. As for seatbelt useage Asians are notoriously bad. Take any domestic flight flight here and as soon as the wheels touch down you can here that click, click, click of the belts being unfastened and a lot of times they're only fastened because their told to do so. Plane's touching town at around the 140 knots/260km/h mark. It's madness. I make sure my belts good and tight for every controlled crash landing and buckled up during the flight. Yep, dunny needs to be used and on long hauls legs need to be stretched but this amounts to minimal time unfastened.

[josephbloggs]

3 hours ago, Georgealbert said:

AOT issues a thank you message and statement.

 

“Suvarnabhumi Airport (Suvarnabhumi Airport) would like to thank all relevant government and private agencies. for supporting the mission to help victims of the Singapore Airlines Flight SQ321 disaster. who experienced an accident when their plane fell into a turbulence and requested an emergency landing on the evening of May 21, including;

The Immigration Office,

Customs Department,

Samut Prakan Provincial Police Division.
Suvarnabhumi Airport Provincial Police Station

Royal Initiative Traffic Police Traffic Police Division,

Aeronautical Radio of Thailand Company Limited

Thai Airways International Public Company Limited and especially the following medical agencies

Samut Prakan Province Public Health

Samut Prakan Province Incident Reporting and Command Center

And hospitals within Samut Prakan Province including various rescue foundations

Samitivej Srinakarin Hospital 

Bangkok Hospital

Praram 9 Hospital

Piyavate Hospital

Vejthani Hospital

Thainakarin Hospital

Vibharam Hospital

Chularat 9 Hospital

Prince Suvarnabhumi Hospital“

 

Seems the airport multi agency emergency response plan went fairly well.

Yeah I have to say everything I have seen and read (including videos posted) suggests that Singapore Airlines and the AOT handled things really well. Good to know the response teams are well trained and the operation went smoothly. 

In the 18 years since the airport opened nothing like this has ever happened so it is reassuring to see how well organised it was after the plane touched down. Well done to all involved, especially the pilots and medical staff.

[PJ71]

2 hours ago, still kicking said:

Well sometimes you need to go to the dunny 

I understand that but i doubt all 30 people ( or more ) that were injured were going to the 'dunny'

[Paris333]

Airbus330 dive due to jammed camera
Mentour pilot describes the incident very impressively:

 

The Strange case of Voyager Flight 333

 

 

And something else about the fatal outcome for a traveler. Nowhere does it say that the turbulence resulted in a fatal injury.

Just read the right sources:

A -30 to +100 meter variation in altitude and a rapid 37 km/h reduction in speed were recorded. The pilots then started a controlled descent from Flight Level 370 to Flight Level 310 -> that's 6000 feet = 2 kilometers lower, but that was intentional to avoid the severe turbulence.

Source:

Accident: Singapore B773 near Bangkok on May 21st 2024, severe turbulence kills one and injures 85

https://avherald.com/h?article=518e5d47&opt=0

 

 

[ibjoe]

We were at BKK when this happened. Looking out the window of my airplane waiting for take off I wondered why there were so many emergency vehicles with red and blue lights, learned about the issue later after landing. Our flights were delayed. We always wear our seat belts snugly the entire flight, except for quick trip to lavatory if necessary. I try to stay dehydrated for long flights to minimize such trips.

[scubascuba3]

8 hours ago, CG1 Blue said:

Exactly my thoughts and understanding of events. 

 

BBC radio just reported that 20 passengers are in intensive care. Not heard this anywhere else though, so hopefully it's not the case.

Although I guess some would be in ICU as a precaution and not necessarily in grave danger. 

 

That said, a lot of people were slammed head first into the ceiling or overhead instruments. Awful. 

I'm a bit suspicious of certain hospitals, get people in ICU ASAP so can milk people to the max, on that subject what happens if people don't have insurance, airline pay? doubt it

[RobU]

13 hours ago, IAMHERE said:

Not so according to CNN’s Erin Burnett, the pilots put on  the seatbelt sign and moments later hit  the air pocket.

'And moments later'

The operative phrase

There was no warning no time to put on seatbelts

[Georgealbert]

This passenger described the event as only lasting about 10 seconds. I have edited the video, to just that passenger's account of the incident, link is to the full video, which is in Thai.

 

https://www.thaipbs.or.th/program/Tanloke/watch/ANoTDD

 

[Georgealbert]

14 hours ago, Georgealbert said:

The cause of death will not be fully determined until a post mortem has been completed.

 

It is not clear if the post mortem will be done in Thailand or the UK, as technically this was not a death in Thailand. It could also be done by both countries.

 

Singapore Airline will be arranging the repatriation of the body, but timing will depend on the condition of his wife and if and when she is able to fly.

 

The family with be talking to the Singapore response team, British Embassy and Thai officials on how to proceed.

Thai Police spokesman, Pol. Lt. Gen. Achayon confirmed that an autopsy will be carried out in Thailand. He said that the body had been sent to the Chakri Naruebodindra Medical Institute, for the autopsy.

[nakhonandy]

1 hour ago, RobU said:

'And moments later'

The operative phrase

There was no warning no time to put on seatbelts

The seat belts sign means passengers are free to move around, however the pilots always recommend keeping the seat belts fastened when sitting, precisely because of the possibility of turbulence. 

[RobU]

15 hours ago, IAMHERE said:

Not so according to CNN’s Erin Burnett, the pilots put on  the seatbelt sign and moments later hit  the air pocket.

Moments later means that there was absolutely no time to fasten seat belts hence effectively no warning. Which part don't you understand?

[RobU]

1 hour ago, nakhonandy said:

The seat belts sign means passengers are free to move around, however the pilots always recommend keeping the seat belts fastened when sitting, precisely because of the possibility of turbulence. 

And I said how many people would be walking around as recommended on long haul flights to prevent DVT or had seat belts unfastened preparing to do so or to go to the toilet? No time to get back to their seat and/or fasten seat belts because 'moments after the light came on' the plane hit an air pocket. Staff were serving breakfast and trolleys were unshipped in preparation. they don't do that when fasten seat belts light is on preparing for turbulence. 

[superal]

16 hours ago, Georgealbert said:

Singapore Airline has issued 5 updates about the incident and are still stating 1 death.

 

No official source has said 2 deaths.

 

This seemed to have been a rumor that grew on social media last night, maybe caused by the chaos of a mass casualty event and miscommunications.

 

Some of the passengers are reported as in a serious condition in hospital.

The Sky news report this morning said 1 dead and 6 in a critical condition in hospital 

[superal]

13 hours ago, dinsdale said:

I've seen this a lot on this thread and I agree to a point but as has been pointed out by myself and others on long haul flights getting up and having a bit of a walk around to get the circulation going is medically recommended for the avoidance of deep vein thrombosis (DVT). If it happens that the plane hits some clear air turbulance not detected then that's bad luck for sure but in reality the chances are very slim. If you're in your seat you should be strapped in. I always am.

I have seen recommended by doctors , to avoid DVT on long haul flights . 1/ Take a baby aspirin to thin your blood , prior to the flight . ( Sheryl's opinion / endorsement is welcomed )  

2/ Exercises for your legs can be done when seated and belted . Yes , walking around for 1 minute every hour was also stated but will put you at risk from turbulence events . Even normal ( scary ) turbulence can cause you to fall through loss of balance .

[dinsdale]

3 minutes ago, superal said:

I have seen recommended by doctors , to avoid DVT on long haul flights . 1/ Take a baby aspirin to thin your blood , prior to the flight . ( Sheryl's opinion / endorsement is welcomed )  

2/ Exercises for your legs can be done when seated and belted . Yes , walking around for 1 minute every hour was also stated but will put you at risk from turbulence events . Even normal ( scary ) turbulence can cause you to fall through loss of balance .

Baby asprin and alcohol don't mix so that's out for anyone who wants to imbibe and moving your legs is one thing but walking gives full body circulation and you can also stretch out those back muscles. Mild turbulance happens all the time and most people will manage to keep their balance. Turbulance that will put people at risk will (mostly) be detected by the pilot hence the fasten seatbelt sign. There's around 14,000,000 commercial flights a week globally so the chance of going for a walk and hitting undetected severe turbulence is very small. This turbulence event on SQ321 is very rare. Again the lesson that comes out of SQ321 is stay buckled up when seated.