Passengers on a Singapore Airlines flight from London to Singapore experienced a harrowing ordeal on Tuesday when the plane hit severe turbulence, forcing an emergency landing in Bangkok. Among the 211 passengers aboard, Andrew Davies shared an account of the chaos and fear that gripped everyone on the flight.
The turbulence was so extreme that one male passenger tragically lost his life, and 30 others were injured, including members of the 18-person crew. Davies, recounting the terrifying experience, described it as an "awful experience" on social media.
"I was on that flight and tried to help as much as I could," Davies wrote on X. "Those of us who weren’t injured are now in a holding area at Bangkok airport. My heart goes out to the gentleman who lost his life and his poor wife. Awful experience."
Davies shared chilling details of the incident, emphasising the bravery and quick response of the flight crew and emergency services. "The seatbelt sign came on, and I fastened mine immediately. Then the plane just dropped," he recalled. "Lots of people were injured, including the air stewards, who remained stoic and did everything they could. Bangkok emergency services responded swiftly."
In another post, Davies mentioned that passengers with medical training stepped in to help, performing CPR on the passenger who died. "Another passenger was laid flat in the aisle further behind me. Not sure what happened to them. I wish I could have done more," he wrote.
Describing the aftermath, Davies painted a vivid picture of the chaos inside the cabin. "People's belongings were scattered everywhere. Coffee and water splattered the ceiling. It was surreal. So many injured people—head lacerations, bleeding ears. One lady was screaming in pain with a bad back. I could only get her water."
One of the Singapore Airlines crew members, with 30 years of experience, reportedly said it was by far the worst turbulence she had ever encountered.
The flight, a Boeing 777-300ER, dropped 6,000 feet in three minutes. FlightRadar 24 spokesperson suggested the turbulence occurred before the standard descent from 37,000 to 31,000 feet, likely as a preparation for landing.
Singapore Airlines confirmed that 18 people were hospitalised, with 12 still receiving treatment. The flight landed in Bangkok at 3:45 pm local time. Passengers who were not injured disembarked independently, and another aircraft was scheduled to fly them to their destination.
Reflecting on the ordeal, Davies expressed his gratitude for the crew and emergency responders, while mourning the tragic loss of life. "It was a surreal and frightening experience. My thoughts are with everyone affected by this terrible incident," he concluded.
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