Singapore turbulent flight: Aussie survivor’s desperate plea

[webfact]

An Australian passenger from the ill-fated Singapore Airlines flight 321 has broken his silence from his Bangkok hospital room.

 

Keith Davis, previously blocked from speaking to the media, revealed the harrowing details of the flight’s emergency landing in Thailand that left his wife critically injured.

 

Davis’ wife has been in intensive care since their flight from London to Singapore was diverted after a passenger’s death amid severe turbulence. Speaking with the Today Show, Davis shared the severity of his wife’s condition.

 

“She has no sensation from her waist down, it’s pretty radical for us.

“We’ve had a fantastic holiday in the UK, we’re one more flight away, nearly home, and this comes along.”

 

Davis’ wife is undergoing emergency surgery to stabilise her for medical evacuation to their home in Adelaide.

 

“It was absolute carnage. There was no warning. We just fell into a freefall zone, and before we knew it, we were on the ceiling and then bang, on the ground.”

 

 

Davis’ wife fell into the aisle, immobile, as he realised he was bleeding profusely.

 

Davis lamented the lack of communication from Singapore Airlines.

 

“I need to know, ‘Am I going through my insurance?’ I’ve got no idea.”

 

Despite the airline’s heavy presence at Bangkok’s Samitivej Srinakarin Hospital, Davis and his wife received no information initially.

 

In a bizarre twist, Davis faced a media blackout enforced by hospital staff. In a public cafe within the hospital, staff, joined by security, prevented him from speaking to the ABC’s Bill Birtles. Davis, in a wheelchair with visible facial injuries, attempted to converse over a cup of coffee but was rushed away by staff.

 

The hospital later apologised, with Dr Adinun Kittiratanapaibool explaining that staff acted with good intentions to protect patient welfare. Singapore Airlines also apologised, committing to support the Davis family during this difficult time and arranging travel for their relatives, reported The Sydney Morning Herald.

 

Despite these assurances, Davis remains frustrated and hopes for a swift return to Adelaide for further medical treatment.

 

by Puntid Tantivangphaisal

Photo courtesy of AP via The Sydney Morning Herald

 

 

Full story: The Thaiger 2024-05-24

 

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[bob smith]

18 minutes ago, webfact said:

“It was absolute carnage. There was no warning. We just fell into a freefall zone, and before we knew it, we were on the ceiling and then bang, on the ground.”

sounds like hell.

 

I hope all those who were injured on board are fully compensated by the airline.

 

Flying in 2024 isn't as safe as it used to be!

 

bob.

[bob smith]

19 minutes ago, webfact said:

 

In a bizarre twist, Davis faced a media blackout enforced by hospital staff. In a public cafe within the hospital, staff, joined by security, prevented him from speaking to the ABC’s Bill Birtles. Davis, in a wheelchair with visible facial injuries, attempted to converse over a cup of coffee but was rushed away by staff.

 

the horrible cultural trait of saving face rearing it's ugly head once again...

 

absolutely disgraceful behavior.

 

bob.

[DaLa]

22 minutes ago, webfact said:

 

“She has no sensation from her waist down, it’s pretty radical for us.

I may have used a completely different phrase personally.  I presume Singapore Airline will give all the assistance , monetary and physically as they have a reputation to uphold. I can't give an opinion on the cause of the incident although generally turbulence is a given in air transport so mostly unavoidable and I would be surprised if there was any negligence by the crew.

[PJ71]

35 minutes ago, bob smith said:

sounds like hell.

 

I hope all those who were injured on board are fully compensated by the airline.

 

Flying in 2024 isn't as safe as it used to be!

 

bob.

I'd be surprised if there's compensation, it's recommended on each flight to keep your seatbelt on once seat, it's mentioned in the PA.

 

Harsh as this may sound, they 'chose' not to.

 

It appears people that did have their seatbelts on received much less minor injuries.

[nakhonandy]

25 minutes ago, bob smith said:

sounds like hell.

 

I hope all those who were injured on board are fully compensated by the airline.

 

Flying in 2024 isn't as safe as it used to be!

 

bob.

 

[smedly]

51 minutes ago, webfact said:

In a bizarre twist, Davis faced a media blackout enforced by hospital staff. In a public cafe within the hospital, staff, joined by security, prevented him from speaking to the ABC’s Bill Birtles. Davis

 

I'd have told them to politely ###  ##

[TroubleandGrumpy]

24 minutes ago, PJ71 said:

I'd be surprised if there's compensation, it's recommended on each flight to keep your seatbelt on once seat, it's mentioned in the PA.

 

Harsh as this may sound, they 'chose' not to.

 

It appears people that did have their seatbelts on received much less minor injuries.

What might happen as an outcome of this event, is that all passengers will be forced to keep their seatbelts on at all times - unless using the toilet. I always wondered why they allow people to undo their belts - at the very least it should be on - maybe not so tight as takeoff/landing - and thus stop you hitting the baggage racks above you and from being flung across the ailse if the plane hits turbulance.  Many people take them off and lay down across other seats - that should be banned too.   

[scubascuba3]

You can see what is happening, lot's of ducking going on to not pay for medical expenses by airline, people and insurance companies no doubt

[daveAustin]

Can't really blame those too harshly for being unbelted as there would have been people in the toilet, toing & froing from the toilet, getting stuff from bags etc, then there's the crew who are obviously always unbelted. Airlines push it of course but not overly so as something like this is very rare. I personally always keep mine belted unless the above, but it takes an event like this for people to really take notice.

 

The dive to emergency land was right since the pilot's main concern was getting a potentially broke plane grounded asap and saving everyone. If Singapore Airlines actively kept people quiet though they should be shafted for it. Wouldn't stop me flying with them but might temporarily hurt their business.

[SAFETY FIRST]

1 hour ago, bob smith said:

sounds like hell.

 

I'd say very similar to your miserable life here in Thailand, from many negative postings I've been reading from you. 

 

[connda]

1 hour ago, webfact said:

“It was absolute carnage. There was no warning. We just fell into a freefall zone, and before we knew it, we were on the ceiling and then bang, on the ground.”

I feel very bad for these people.  However, how many people unbuckle their seat-belt just because the "Seatbelt" sign is not lit? 
I've flown commercial and as a private pilot - when I'm sitting in a plane, my seat-belt is fastened unless I have to get up and use the restroom. 

My guess is that most of the injured were seat-belt free.  Just like wearing a seat-belt in a car:  99.999999999% of the time you don't need it - you need it when the 0.000000001% of the time event occurs. 

🙏 Prayers for the injured and dead.

[connda]

22 minutes ago, scubascuba3 said:

You can see what is happening, lot's of ducking going on to not pay for medical expenses by airline, people and insurance companies no doubt

Corporations hate liability and will go to extreme measures to avoid paying out anything to the victims.

[connda]

1 hour ago, webfact said:

The hospital later apologised, with Dr Adinun Kittiratanapaibool explaining that staff acted with good intentions to protect patient welfare.

The hospital later apologised, with Dr Adinun Kittiratanapaibool explaining that staff acted with good intentions to protect patient welfare hospital's and airline's reputations.

There! Fixed it! 

[KannikaP]

1 hour ago, bob smith said:

Flying in 2024 isn't as safe as it used to be!

Air turbulence has been here since God created the Heavens and the Earth.

So Act of God = no insurance payout. 

[KannikaP]

40 minutes ago, daveAustin said:

The dive to emergency land was right since the pilot's main concern was getting a potentially broke plane grounded asap and saving everyone.

The pilot did not 'dive' to do the landing, it was caused by wind=shear/air turbulence.

He made a perfectly normal descent and emergency landing.

[Chivas]

I was on that exact same Singapore flight on January 17th out of Heathrow

 

There but for the grace of God go I

[PJ71]

50 minutes ago, daveAustin said:

then there's the crew who are obviously always unbelted.

These are the ones who may get compensated.

[Celsius]

Can you imagine the picture?

 

I can.

 

Hospital staff negotiating with Singapore staff before the treatment.... you pay! You pay!!

[ravip]

1 hour ago, TroubleandGrumpy said:

What might happen as an outcome of this event, is that all passengers will be forced to keep their seatbelts on at all times - unless using the toilet. I always wondered why they allow people to undo their belts - at the very least it should be on - maybe not so tight as takeoff/landing - and thus stop you hitting the baggage racks above you and from being flung across the ailse if the plane hits turbulance.  Many people take them off and lay down across other seats - that should be banned too.   

Agree 100%.

No one can predict what beholds up there... however safe it sounds like. Kudos to the Pilots who handled this problem as best as they could.

[ian carman]

They were serving food at the time so everyone should have been seated and wearing a seat belt .I wonder if they have the technology to check this?

[hotchilli]

2 hours ago, bob smith said:

Flying in 2024 isn't as safe as it used to be!

Flying in 2024 is as safe if not safer than it has ever been... not sure how you come to that conclusion?

this event was/is unpredictable even with modern tech in the aircraft.

Bad weather, can be detected ahead using onboard radar and reports from ATC and other aircraft, however air-pockets remain invisible.

[KannikaP]

28 minutes ago, Chivas said:

I was on that exact same Singapore flight on January 17th out of Heathrow

 

There but for the grace of God go I

Rather dramatic Mr Chivas. But come on, all who flew this route this year, tell us all how lucky/grateful/happy you are that it arrived safely.

And all those since last week.

[BigStar]

Well, I'd like to have more info about the stewardesses. Hope those lovely ladies are all OK.

[Naroge]

[ “It was absolute carnage. There was no warning. We just fell into a freefall zone, and before we knew it, we were on the ceiling and then bang, on the ground.”]

 

From other reports it was stated that the "No Seatbelt" sign was turned on. What I have not seen however is any mentioning of for how long it was turned on before the major turbulence. Was it a few seconds or a minute? That makes quite a difference.

[jerrymahoney]

1 hour ago, scubascuba3 said:

You can see what is happening, lot's of ducking going on to not pay for medical expenses by airline, people and insurance companies no doubt

If this were an occurence involving some so-called budget carrier, there might be more concern. I think not so much with Singapore.

[KannikaP]

11 minutes ago, ian carman said:

They were serving food at the time so everyone should have been seated and wearing a seat belt .I wonder if they have the technology to check this?

It shouldn't be too difficult. Every car I know for that last 10 years has had a warning sound if someone is sitting in a seat without seatbelt. So lets say a green light over each seat to say all is OK, which turns RED if undone, especially when taxi-ing after landing. You always hear click click undo undo immediately after the announcement has said keep belts on until standstill.

[KannikaP]

3 minutes ago, Naroge said:

[ “It was absolute carnage. There was no warning. We just fell into a freefall zone, and before we knew it, we were on the ceiling and then bang, on the ground.”]

 

From other reports it was stated that the "No Seatbelt" sign was turned on. What I have not seen however is any mentioning of for how long it was turned on before the major turbulence. Was it a few seconds or a minute? That makes quite a difference.

There is not a NO SEATBELT sign to turn on. Only a SEATBELT sign to turn on. It should be on all flight in my opinion.

And as for the bogs, put a belt on that seat also. 

[PJ71]

17 minutes ago, ian carman said:

They were serving food at the time so everyone should have been seated and wearing a seat belt .I wonder if they have the technology to check this?

It's quite obvious the people flying about the cabins did not have their seatbelts on.

[Smokey and the Bandit]

1 hour ago, PJ71 said:

I'd be surprised if there's compensation, it's recommended on each flight to keep your seatbelt on once seat, it's mentioned in the PA.

 

Harsh as this may sound, they 'chose' not to.

 

It appears people that did have their seatbelts on received much less minor injuries.

As you say the passengers that were 'belted up' all seems OK physically at least, maybe scared but not damaged, the un belted ones were the ones that had severe injuries.

Singapore Airlines has been one of the best airlines in the world for many years, same as its airport, they have a reputation to uphold.I would be very surprised if they did not pay for all the hospital bills of the injured.

Apparently this 'turbulence' occurred very quickly and its not clear if the seat belt signs were on or not, if they had just came on, usually the cabin crew check to ensure the passengers are all belted up.

I have flown SIA many times and I would have to say they are one the most professional airlines and cabin/flight crew out there!