TURBULENCE-HIT AIRCRAFT DEPARTS BANGKOK FOR SINGAPORE

TURBULENCE-HIT AIRCRAFT DEPARTS BANGKOK FOR SINGAPORE

The Singapore Airlines aircraft, struck by turbulence and ending up with one dead and multiple injuries, has returned to Singapore from Suvarnabhumi Airport where it performed an emergency landing last Tuesday. The Bangkok Post reports that the aircraft left Bangkok yesterday.

One passenger – a 73 year old British man – died of a suspected heart attack and 43 others were injured, some seriously, when the aircraft suddenly lost altitude and was struck by severe turbulence while flying over Myanmar. Some of the injured remain in Bangkok hospitals recovering from their injuries and surgery.

At the time, flight SQ9071, travelling from London to Singapore, was carrying 211 passengers and 18 crew. The crew requested an emergency landing at Suvarnabhumi Airport.

Singapore Airlines has confirmed that its aircraft left Bangkok at 10.49am yesterday, landing in Singapore at 12.39pm.

“SIA obtained the necessary approvals from the relevant authorities in Singapore and Thailand, the investigators, and the aircraft manufacturer, and the aircraft was cleared by our Engineering and Flight Operations teams, before departure.”

Whilst there was extensive damage to some of the parts inside the aircraft, including overhead bins and food service carts, the integrity of the 777 aircraft, and the engines, were not compromised by the severe turbulence.

Meanwhile, less than a week later, another international fight has been hit by severe turbulence, leaving 12 people injured. Qatar Airways flight QR017, travelling from Doha to Dublin, encountered severe and unexpected turbulence over Turkey.

One passenger told the Irish news channel, RTE News, that the seatbelt sign was not lit when the aircraft was struck by turbulence, with a crew member thrown into the air as the “Boeing 787 dropped without warning”. Food was also sent flying around the cabin, with other passengers describing scenes of fear and panic.

The aircraft landed in the Irish capital as planned at 1pm local time and was met by emergency fire and rescue vehicles. Six passengers and six crew members were injured in the incident.