Current:Home > StocksSingapore Airlines passenger says it was chaos as "extreme turbulence" hit flight with no warning-LoTradeCoin
Singapore Airlines passenger says it was chaos as "extreme turbulence" hit flight with no warning
View Date:2024-12-23 20:28:33
London — A passenger who was on the Singapore Airlines flight SQ321 when it hit severe turbulence on Tuesday, leaving one passenger dead and dozens injured, has described "horrifying" scenes on board the Boeing 777 as it hit the rough air with virtually no warning. Dzafram Azmir, a 28-year-old student from Malaysia, was travelling from London to Singapore when the plane was hit by what the airline called "extreme turbulence," dropping about 6,000 feet in the space of just five minutes.
"I've been flying all my life since I was a kid. I didn't know turbulence could cause this level of damage and how much it could hurt people," Azmir told CBS News on Wednesday. He described the ordeal as "quick and unanticipated" as the plane hit the turbulence around the time of a meal service.
- What causes turbulence and how to stay safe on a flight
"There was screaming, yelling and gasping," Azmir said. "People who weren't buckled down in their seats were thrown up off of their chairs, flung to the ceiling of the cabin and then immediately thrown back down, to their seats or the flooring."
In a statement, the airline said the plane encountered the turbulence over the Indian Ocean at 37,000 feet, about 10 hours after departure. The flight was then diverted to Bangkok after the pilot declared a medical emergency.
An official with the Bangkok airport said Tuesday that the man who died, who was identified as a 73-year-old British passenger, was believed to have suffered a heart attack during the turbulence. In a post on Facebook, the carrier offered its condolences to the family of the man who died and later apologized "for the traumatic experience that our passengers and crew members suffered."
Azmir said he counted himself lucky to have come out of the incident unscathed, which he credited to having his seatbelt on at the time. Passengers have said the seatbelt light came on right before the plane hit the turbulence, but Azmir said there was no warning, which he believes contributed to the extent of the damage and injuries.
He said his experience "pales in comparison to some more tragic things that happened to other passengers," but that the incident had left him fearing turbulence.
- The impacts of climate change on air travel
A relief flight carrying 143 of the passengers and crew members arrived in Singapore on early Wednesday morning, according to the airline. At least 30 peopled were injured on the Tuesday flight, according to Thai officials, including some who were left in critical condition.
The Reuters news agency said Wednesday that 20 passengers were in intensive care, nine had undergone surgery, and five others were awaiting surgery at Bangkok's Samitivej Hospital.
- In:
- Thailand
- Singapore Airlines
- Travel
- Asia
- London
veryGood! (2911)
Related
- Contained, extinguished and mopping up: Here’s what some common wildfire terms mean
- Why Lisa Marie Presley Kept Son Benjamin Keough's Body on Dry Ice for 2 Months After His Death
- Panera Bread reaches first settlement in Charged Lemonade, wrongful death lawsuits
- Georgia wide receiver arrested on battery, assault on unborn child charges
- Forget the bathroom. When renovating a home, a good roof is a no-brainer, experts say.
- Charlie Puth Reveals “Unusual” Post-Wedding Plans With Wife Brooke Sansone
- American Water, largest water utility in US, dealing with cyberattack
- Taylor Swift in Arrowhead: Singer arrives at third home game to root for Travis Kelce
- Tropical Storm Sara threatens to bring flash floods and mudslides to Central America
- Ex-New Mexico state senator John Arthur Smith dies at 82
Ranking
- The charming Russian scene-stealers of 'Anora' are also real-life best friends
- Home insurers argue for a 42% average premium hike in North Carolina
- Get an $18 Deal on Eyelash Serum Used by Luann de Lesseps, Lala Kent, Paige DeSorbo & More Celebrities
- The Daily Money: America is hiring
- Mississippi expects only a small growth in state budget
- A series of deaths and the ‘Big Fight': Uncovering police force in one Midwestern city
- Khloé Kardashian’s Must-Have Amazon Prime Day Picks You’ll Want to Shop Now With Picks as Low as $6.99
- Off the Grid: Sally breaks down USA TODAY's daily crossword puzzle, Assorted Danish
Recommendation
-
Bowl projections: SEC teams joins College Football Playoff field
-
Takeaways from AP’s investigation into fatal police incidents in one Midwestern city
-
2 ex-officers convicted in fatal beating of Tyre Nichols get home detention while 1 stays in jail
-
Cattle wander onto North Dakota interstate and cause 3 crashes
-
Kansas basketball vs Michigan State live score updates, highlights, how to watch Champions Classic
-
Coyote calling contests: Nevada’s search for a compromise that likely doesn’t exist
-
Illegal migration at the US border drops to lowest level since 2020.
-
I'm a Shopping Editor, Here's What I'm Buying From October Prime Day 2024: The 51 Best Amazon Deals