A Singapore Airlines plane hit by fatal turbulence last week fell 178 feet in just 4.6 seconds and suffered a rapid change in G-force that sent passengers somersaulting through the air, according to an initial investigation.
A 73-year-old passenger, identified as musical theater director Geoffrey Kitchen, died of a suspected heart attack and dozens were injured after flight SQ321, flying from London to Singapore, encountered what the airline described as sudden turbulence and extreme while flying over Myanmar. .
The May 21 flight on a Boeing 777-300ER aircraft carrying 211 passengers and 18 crew diverted to Bangkok for an emergency landing after the plane was hit by turbulence that threw passengers and crew into the air. cabin, knocking some against the roof.
‘The plane experienced a rapid change in G (gravitational force). “This likely caused the occupants who were not buckled up to become airborne,” Singapore’s Transport Ministry said in a statement.
‘Vertical acceleration changed from negative 1.5G to positive 1.5G in 4 seconds. “This probably caused the airborne occupants to fall back down,” he said, citing information gleaned from flight data and cockpit voice recorders.
The May 21 flight on a Boeing 777-300ER aircraft carrying 211 passengers and 18 crew diverted to Bangkok for an emergency landing after the plane was hit by turbulence.
The plane was rocked by turbulence that threw passengers and crew around the cabin.
Singapore Airlines said it acknowledged the report and was cooperating fully with the investigation.
“The rapid changes in G during the 4.6-second duration resulted in an altitude drop of 178 feet, from 37,362 feet to 37,184 feet. This sequence of events likely caused injuries to the crew and passengers,” he added.
Singapore Airlines said it acknowledged the report and was cooperating fully with the investigation.
The airline said late Tuesday that 42 people who were on board the flight were still in Bangkok, including 26 passengers receiving medical treatment in hospital.
Those initially hospitalized included patients with spinal cord injuries and some with brain and skull injuries, according to Thai medical officials.
The preliminary report said that when the flight encountered slight vibrations, an uncontrolled increase in altitude occurred, causing the autopilot to pitch the plane downward. The pilots experienced an increase in airspeed and responded by applying speed brakes.
“While monitoring airspeed… a pilot was heard yelling that the fasten seat belt signal had been activated,” he said.
Hong Kong’s Greater Bay Airlines said Wednesday it will require passengers to fasten their seat belts at all times during the flight, even when the seat belt sign is off, starting Thursday.
A 73-year-old passenger, identified as musical theater director Geoffrey Kitchen (pictured, left), died of a suspected heart attack.
Tributes poured in for Kitchen, who died last week of a suspected heart attack on the plane.
The company said it is not a mandatory requirement but a precautionary measure for the safety of passengers.
The investigation team was composed of Singapore investigators and U.S. representatives from Boeing, the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB), and the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA).
Singapore’s Transport Ministry said the investigation was ongoing.
Standing passengers, caught off guard by the ill-fated ship’s deadly turbulence, were “doing cartwheels” when they crashed through the cabin roof, a shocked passenger said.
Heartbreaking images taken on board showed the cabin littered with debris as distraught passengers desperately tried to stop blood flowing from severe cuts and blunt force wounds.
A passenger named Jerry, traveling to his son’s wedding aboard the ill-fated flight SQ321, said it was “the worst flight of my life.”
Speaking to BBC journalists with a bandage covering part of his head, he said: “Suddenly the plane went down… there was no warning and I ended up hitting my head on the ceiling, and so did my wife.”
‘Some poor people walking around ended up doing somersaults. “It was absolutely terrible.”
A video posted online shows how Mr. Kitchen (below left) participated in his local musical theater group.
In response to a tribute to her father, Anna Proctor wrote: ‘I love you dad x’
Tributes to Geoffrey Kitchen poured in in the days after it was revealed he had died of a suspected heart attack on the plane.
His heartbroken daughter Anna Proctor posted on Facebook ‘I love you dad x’ after her father, who was on his ‘last big holiday’ with his wife, died in the shocking disaster.
A friend of the couple told the BBC that they “loved to travel” and were “very excited” about the trip, which would see them embark on a cruise in Indonesia before traveling to Australia.
Lizzie Atkins also described him as “the most wonderful human being you will ever meet.”
Mrs Atkins, a member of Bristol-based Thornbury musical theater group, said: “He would do anything for you.” “It was just amazing.”
Speaking to BBC Radio 4’s Today programme, he said: “He was actually an extraordinary man.”
“He was stable and reliable, and you always knew you were in good hands with Geoff.
“He had a very dry sense of humor and a twinkle in his eye and every time you saw him you knew he was going to make a funny joke.”
He added: “He was the most wonderful human being you could ever meet, one of the best.”
More to follow.