A passenger who was onboard the Singapore Airlines flight that encountered severe turbulence, resulting in the death of a passenger, has bravely come forward to share his terrifying experience.
Earlier today, during a flight from London to Singapore, the Boeing 777-300ER aircraft experienced unexpected turbulence, causing it to drop 6,000ft (1,830m) in just three minutes. The plane was then forced to divert to Suvarnabhumi Airport in Bangkok, Thailand.
Tragically, a 73-year-old British passenger lost their life in this incident, and approximately 30 other passengers are currently in critical condition.
In the aftermath of the accident, passengers have been sharing their firsthand accounts online and speaking to various news outlets.
Passenger Andrew Davies from London spoke with BBC News and described the experience as “surreal.” He recalls being covered in coffee during the few seconds the plane dropped, which was accompanied by a cacophony of screams and what sounded like a thud.
Andrew also witnessed the immediate aftermath, with passengers offering first aid to one another and someone urgently calling for a defibrillator. He recalls the scene of the injured: head lacerations, bleeding ears, and a lady in excruciating pain with a back injury. Despite his best efforts to assist, all he could do was offer her water.
Many passengers, including the flight attendants who remained composed and provided assistance, sustained injuries. Andrew revealed that one crew member confided in him, stating that it was her “worst” experience in her 30 years of flying.
However, despite this harrowing ordeal, Andrew shared that it hasn’t deterred him from flying in the future, emphasizing that incidents like this are extremely rare.
“I will get on another flight; these are very rare occurrences,” he stated with resolve.
The turbulence occurred at approximately 3:45pm local time (9:45am UK time), while the plane was cruising at an altitude of around 37,000ft (11,280m).
Following the tragedy, airport head Kittipong Kittikachorn confirmed that the deceased passenger was a 73-year-old British national who had a pre-existing heart condition.
“I confirm the death toll is one person…we learned he had a heart condition,” Kittikachorn said.
“The death will be subject to an autopsy, but we suspect it could be caused by a heart attack. The deceased was a 73-year-old British national. The police are overseeing the case, and the body will be sent to the autopsy department before contacting the embassy.”
Currently, seven people remain in critical condition while 23 passengers are being treated for less severe injuries.
This incident serves as a stark reminder of the unpredictable nature of air travel and the importance of being prepared for any eventuality.
