By Jon Emont
Injuries on board a turbulence-hit Singapore Airlines flight last week were likely caused by rapid G-force fluctuations that sent those who weren't buckled in into the air before falling back down during the span of 4.6 seconds, according to a preliminary analysis by Singaporean authorities.
One person died, likely from cardiac arrest, and dozens suffered injuries, including to the head, spine and neck. The May 21 incident on Flight SQ321 from London to Singapore was one of the worst turbulence-related accidents in history.
Based on information from the plane's flight-data recorder and cockpit-voice recorder, Singapore's Transport Safety Investigation Bureau on Wednesday laid out a sequence of events showing the aircraft's erratic movements.
The Boeing 777-300ER was at 37,000 feet over southern Myanmar when an updraft lifted it more than 360 feet. In response, the autopilot pitched the aircraft downward "to descend back to the selected altitude of 37,000 ft.," the investigators said. The pilots, also noticing an increase in airspeed, used the speed breaks.
Investigators said the aircraft experienced rapid changes in gravitational forces. A shift from positive to negative G-forces thrust passengers and crew who didn't have their seat belts on into the air. A rapid shift back from negative to positive G-forces forced them down again.
As the plane lurched, passengers crashed into the ceiling and overhead luggage bins. One man broke his neck from hitting the ceiling while his wife broke her back. Passengers were bleeding from their heads and ears, and some were screaming in pain.
Amid the fluctuations, the pilots took manual control and disengaged the autopilot for 21 seconds. The plane returned to its initial altitude of 37,000 feet and made a controlled descent to 31,000 feet before making an emergency landing in Bangkok.
On Wednesday, Singapore Airlines said 26 passengers were still receiving treatment in Bangkok hospitals.
Write to Jon Emont at jonathan.emont@wsj.com
(END) Dow Jones Newswires
May 29, 2024 06:46 ET (10:46 GMT)
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