Passengers Describe ‘Dramatic Drop’ and Upward Movement on Singapore Airlines Flight

Passengers on Singapore Airlines flight SQ321 had little warning of the chaos that was to come after a long-haul flight from London. With just three hours to Singapore, passengers were relaxing when the Boeing 777-300R suddenly encountered extreme turbulence over Myanmar. This caused a commotion in the cabin as passengers, flight attendants, and meals were tossed around violently.

Malaysian student Dzafran Azmir described the terrifying scene: “Suddenly the aircraft starts tilting up and there was shaking. There was a very dramatic drop, launching passengers who were not wearing seatbelts into the ceiling, causing injuries and damage.”

Tragically, one passenger died of a suspected heart attack, and many others were injured during the turbulent flight, which occurred around 10 hours into the journey.

Passenger Andrew Davies described the chaos onboard, mentioning objects flying and people injured, including a lady with a bleeding head wound. The flight encountered a sudden turbulence event, according to flight data provider FlightRadar 24, lasting only a few seconds.

Debris, spilled drinks, and damaged sections of the cabin were evident due to the turbulence. Oxygen masks deployed, and passengers were left shaken by the ordeal.

Although the exact cause of the turbulence was not specified by Singapore Airlines, severe thunderstorms were reported in the area. The pilot made the decision to divert the plane to Bangkok for emergency landing.

Upon landing, the plane was met by a large number of ambulances and emergency personnel. The injured passengers were treated as the crew, many of whom sustained injuries themselves, continued to assist.

Some passengers were taken to Singapore on another flight, while others were treated in Thai hospitals. The incident left a lasting impact on those onboard, emphasizing the importance of always wearing seatbelts during flights.