Singapore Airlines flight SQ321 from London to Singapore made headlines when it was hit by extreme turbulence which resulted in the death of a passenger and injuries to several others. The airline has since offered compensation to those affected by the incident, with $10,000 offered to passengers with minor injuries and a discussion on compensation for those with more serious injuries. Passengers requiring long-term medical care were also offered an advance payment of $25,000.
The Boeing 777-300ER aircraft experienced severe turbulence after falling into an air pocket over Thai airspace, causing the plane to plunge 54 meters in less than five seconds. A 73-year-old British national was confirmed dead due to a suspected heart attack, and 104 other passengers were injured. SIA confirmed that 20 passengers were still receiving medical care in hospitals in Bangkok, with the airline covering their medical expenses and arranging for family members to be flown in.
All passengers on the flight will receive a full refund, including those who were not injured. They were also given $740 each to cover immediate expenses when they departed from Bangkok. In addition to this, they will receive delay compensation according to EU or UK regulations. Following the incident, Singapore Airlines has implemented a more cautious seat belt policy and will no longer serve hot drinks or meals when seat belt signs are on.
Severe injuries from flight turbulence are rare, but turbulence-related accidents are the most common type experienced by commercial airlines according to the U.S. National Transportation Safety Board. Singapore Airlines has been cooperating fully with an investigation into the incident by the Singapore Transport Safety Investigation Bureau and other relevant authorities. The safety of passengers remains a top priority for the airline, and they are taking steps to ensure that such incidents are minimized in the future.
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