One dead after severe turbulence hits Singapore Airlines flight SQ321

Singapore Airlines flight SQ321 from London Heathrow to Singapore

Singapore Airlines flight SQ321, operating from London Heathrow to Singapore, declared an emergency and diverted approximately one hour and thirty minutes from its destination. The Boeing 777-300ER, registered as 9V-SWM, departed from London Heathrow on Monday at 22:37 BST.

Severe Turbulence and Emergency Declaration

According to our data, Singapore flight SQ321 experienced a sudden drop of approximately 6000 feet, as the graphic below shows: FL39 (39.000 ft) @ 2024-05-21 08:05:28 UTC to FL31 (31.000 ft) @ 2024-05-21 08:10:21 UTC. 

Singapore Airlines SQ321 flight log

Singapore Airlines SQ321 flight log

While en route, the aircraft encountered severe turbulence, prompting the crew to declare an emergency. The situation escalated as the turbulence caused significant distress and injuries among passengers. Consequently, the flight diverted to Bangkok Suvarnabhumi Airport (BKK).

Detailed track log from 08:05:28 UTC to 08:08:51 UTC is available here:

RadarBox.com/data/flights/SQ321/2159311738/log

Landing and Immediate Response

The Boeing 777-300ER landed safely on runway 19R at BKK Airport and subsequently vacated the runway, taxiing to the terminal. The response on the ground was swift, with dozens of ambulances rushing to the scene to provide medical assistance. Air Traffic Control (ATC) was informed about difficult situations for the board, which necessitated this rapid response.

Casualties Reported

Source: AirLive

According to the Thai press agency ข่าวช่องวัน, the pilot reported that 30 passengers sustained injuries, and tragically, one passenger lost their life due to the severe turbulence. The nature and extent of the injuries among the other passengers remain undisclosed.

Source: @BanditOnYour6 on X

Source: @BanditOnYour6 on X

Official Statement from Singapore Airlines

In an official statement, Singapore Airlines confirmed the unfortunate incident and expressed its condolences:

Singapore Airlines flight #SQ321, operating from London (Heathrow) to Singapore on 20 May 2024, encountered severe turbulence en-route. The aircraft diverted to Bangkok and landed at 1545hrs local time on 21 May 2024.

We can confirm that there are injuries and one fatality on board the Boeing 777-300ER. Singapore Airlines offers its deepest condolences to the family of the deceased.

Ongoing Investigation

An investigation is underway to determine the specifics of the turbulence encountered and the overall handling of the emergency. Both the airline and relevant aviation authorities are collaborating to ensure a thorough examination of the incident.