Singapore Airlines Flight 321

Last updated

Singapore Airlines Flight 321
9V-SWM@PEK (20210201142431).jpg
9V-SWM, the aircraft involved in the accident, pictured in 2021
Accident
Date21 May 2024 (2024-05-21)
SummaryIn-flight turbulence, under investigation
SiteOver Myaungmya District, Myanmar
16°29′06″N95°11′24″E / 16.48500°N 95.19000°E / 16.48500; 95.19000
Aircraft
Aircraft type Boeing 777-312ER [lower-alpha 1]
Operator Singapore Airlines
IATA flight No.SQ321
ICAO flight No.SIA321
Call signSINGAPORE 321
Registration 9V-SWM
Flight origin Heathrow Airport, London, United Kingdom
Destination Changi Airport, Singapore
Occupants229
Passengers211
Crew18
Fatalities1
Injuries104
Survivors228
Route map SQ321 20240521 route map.svg
Route map

On 21 May 2024, a Singapore Airlines Boeing 777-312ER operating as Flight 321, flying a scheduled passenger flight from London Heathrow Airport to Singapore Changi Airport carrying 229 occupants on board, encountered severe turbulence over Myanmar, resulting in 1 death and 104 injuries. The aircraft subsequently made an emergency landing at Bangkok's Suvarnabhumi Airport. The accident was Singapore Airlines' first fatal aviation accident since the crash of Flight 006 in 2000 and the first fatal accident involving the Boeing 777 since Emirates Flight 521 in 2016.

Contents

Aircraft

The aircraft involved was a 16-year-old Boeing 777-312ER [lower-alpha 1] , registered as 9V-SWM, with manufacturer serial number 34578 and line number 701. The aircraft was equipped with two General Electric GE90-115B engines and was delivered to Singapore Airlines in February 2008. [1] [2]

Accident

The Boeing 777-312ER encountered severe turbulence at around 07:49 UTC on 21 May 2024 (14:19 local time) [3] over the Irrawaddy Basin in Myanmar, around 360 nautical miles (667 km; 414 mi) from Bangkok. [4] [5] Cabin crew members were in the midst of serving breakfast [6] when the turbulence became sufficiently severe for unsecured passengers and objects to become airborne inside the cabin. [4] [5] Some passengers said the "fasten seat belt" sign was turned on too late to prevent injuries. [7] Tracking data showed that the aircraft was at an altitude of 37,000 feet (11,278 m) at the time of the encounter. [8]

A passenger died and 104 others were injured, [9] with 20 of them in intensive care. [10] The sole fatality was a 73-year-old British man travelling with his wife, who was hospitalised. [11] The man was suffering from a heart condition and died from a suspected heart attack. [4] [5] At least five medical personnel, four doctors and a nurse, were onboard as passengers and tended to the injured despite sustaining injuries during the turbulence. [12] [13] Fifteen Britons, [9] twelve Australians, [14] nine Malaysians, [11] five Filipinos, [15] four New Zealanders, two Singaporeans, and a Hongkonger were also injured. [10] [16] The oldest person to receive treatment was an 83-year old. [17] Most victims were treated for fractures including to the vertebrae and skull, as well as internal damage to the brain, spinal cord and other organs. [18] Images show that the oxygen masks were hanging after parts of the aircraft's interior were damaged. [19] [20] The accident was Singapore Airlines' first fatal aviation accident since the crash of Flight 006 in 2000 and the first fatal accident involving the Boeing 777-300ER. [9]

Preliminary investigations suggested the flight experienced rapid vertical force changes and an altitude drop of around 177 ft (54 m) [21] The flight was then diverted to Bangkok, where it made an emergency landing at 15:45 local time. [22] [4] [5] Singapore Airlines dispatched a relief flight which carried 131 passengers and 12 crew members to Singapore the next morning. [8] [23]

The accident aircraft was subsequently cleared to continue flying, and returned to Singapore on 26 May. [24] [25]

Investigation

Data from both the flight data recorder (FDR) and cockpit voice recorder (CVR) were subsequently obtained by investigators from the Transport Safety Investigation Bureau (TSIB), [26] a department within the Ministry of Transport of Singapore, who arrived in Bangkok on the night of the accident. [27] [28] [29]

The US National Transportation Safety Board was also reported to be sending an accredited representative and four technical advisers to support the investigation process as the accident involved an American-built aircraft. [27]

Preliminary investigations released by TSIB on 29 May 2024 are based on preliminary analysis of the FDR and CVR. These revealed that the turbulence was first encountered at 07:49:21 UTC, the aircraft experienced positive vertical forces fluctuating between 0.44G and 1.57G for about 19 seconds, with an uncommanded increase of aircraft altitude to 37,362 feet (11,388 m). The turbulence caused the plane to vibrate. The autopilot, being engaged, pitched the plane downwards to return to 37,000 feet (11,278 m). There was also an uncommanded increase in airspeed, which the pilots extended the speed brakes to counteract for. At 07:49:32 UTC, one of the pilots called out that the fasten seatbelt signs had been turned on. At 07:49:40 UTC the aircraft experienced a drop in vertical acceleration from +1.35G to -1.5G within 0.6 seconds, which likely caused unrestrained passengers to become airborne. At 07:49:41 UTC the vertical acceleration changed from -1.5G to +1.5G in 4 seconds, which would have caused airborne occupants to fall. [30]

Through this 4.6 second sequence, the aircraft was recorded as dropping from 37,362 feet (11,388 m) to 37,184 feet (11,334 m), a fall of 178 feet (54.3 m). The pilots manually controlled the aircraft for 21 seconds to stabilise the aircraft and re-engaged the autopilot at 07:50:05 UTC. The aircraft returned to its selected altitude of 37,000 feet at 07:50:23 UTC. The uncommanded increase in airspeed and altitude was likely due to an updraft. No further severe turbulence was encountered for the remaining flight to Bangkok. [30]

Aftermath

After the accident, Singapore Airlines announced it would modify its cabin service routines. In addition to the suspension of hot beverage service when the seat belt sign was on, the meal service would also be suspended. The current policy of crew members securing all loose items and equipment in the cabin during poor weather conditions would continue. [31] The airline offered compensation payments of $10,000 to victims with minor injuries and an "advance payment" of $25,000 for those seriously injured as well as further discussions to meet "their specific circumstances". It also offered a full fare refund and S$1,000 to all passengers on board to cover immediate expenses and arrangements for relatives to fly to Bangkok where requested. [32]

On 22 May 2024, the CEO of Singapore Airlines Goh Choon Phong apologized for what happened on Flight SQ321 and expressed condolences while pledging full cooperation with the ongoing investigation. Condolences were also issued by Singaporean Prime Minister Lawrence Wong [9] and President Tharman Shanmugaratnam. [33]

See also

Notes

  1. 1 2 The airliner was a Boeing 777-300ER model; Boeing assigns a unique code for each company that buys one of its airliners, which is applied as a suffix to the model number at the time the aircraft is built, hence "777-312ER" designates a 777-300ER built for Singapore Airlines (customer code 12).

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Boeing 777</span> Wide-body, long-range, twin-engine jet airliner family

The Boeing 777, commonly referred to as the Triple Seven, is an American long-range wide-body airliner developed and manufactured by Boeing Commercial Airplanes. The 777 is the world's largest twinjet and the most-built wide-body airliner. The jetliner was designed to bridge the gap between Boeing's other wide body airplanes, the twin-engined 767 and quad-engined 747, and to replace aging DC-10 and L-1011 trijets. Developed in consultation with eight major airlines, the 777 program was launched in October 1990, with an order from United Airlines. The prototype was rolled out in April 1994, and first flew in June. The 777 entered service with the launch operator United Airlines in June 1995. Longer-range variants were launched in 2000, and first delivered in 2004.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Singapore Airlines</span> Flag carrier of Singapore

Singapore Airlines is the flag carrier of Singapore with its hub located at Changi Airport. A member of Star Alliance, the airline is notable for highlighting the Singapore Girl as its central figure in the corporate branding segment and not significantly changing its livery throughout its history. Widely renowned as one of the world's best carriers, the airline is ranked as a 5-star airline as well as ranked as the world's best airline by Skytrax five times. The airline operates a variety of Airbus and Boeing aircraft, namely the A350, A380, Boeing 737, Boeing 747 Freighter, Boeing 777 and Boeing 787, among others.

All Nippon Airways Co., Ltd. is a Japanese airline headquartered in Minato, Tokyo. ANA operates services to both domestic and international destinations and is Japan's largest airline, ahead of its main rival flag carrier Japan Airlines. As of April 2023, the airline has approximately 12,800 employees. The airline joined as a Star Alliance member in October 1999.

EVA Airways Corporation is a Taiwanese international airline headquartered in Taoyuan City. It is one of the two largest airlines in Taiwan along with state-owned China Airlines. The privately owned airline operates passenger and dedicated cargo services to over 40 international destinations in Asia, Australia, Europe & North America. Its network fully consists of international routes, with no domestic routes. It is rated as a 5-star airline by Skytrax, and is the second largest airline based in Taiwan after China Airlines. EVA Air is headquartered at Taoyuan International Airport in Luzhu, Taoyuan City. The company slogan is "Sharing the World, Flying Together".

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Boeing 747-400</span> Wide-body airliner, improved production series of the 747

The Boeing 747-400 is a large, long-range wide-body airliner produced by Boeing Commercial Airplanes, an advanced variant of the initial Boeing 747. The "Advanced Series 300" was announced at the September 1984 Farnborough Airshow, targeting a 10% cost reduction with more efficient engines and 1,000 nautical miles [nmi] of additional range. Northwest Airlines became the first customer with an order for 10 aircraft on October 22, 1985. The first 747-400 was rolled out on January 26, 1988, and made its maiden flight on April 29, 1988. Type certification was received on January 9, 1989, and it entered service with NWA on February 9, 1989.

In meteorology, clear-air turbulence (CAT) is the turbulent movement of air masses in the absence of any visual clues such as clouds, and is caused when bodies of air moving at widely different speeds meet.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">United Airlines Flight 826</span> 1997 clear-air turbulence incident

On December 28, 1997, United Airlines Flight 826 was operated by a Boeing 747-100 flying from New Tokyo International Airport (Narita), Japan to Honolulu International Airport, Hawaii. Two hours into the flight, at an altitude of 31,000 feet (9,400 m), the plane received reports of severe clear-air turbulence in the area and the seat belt sign was turned on. Moments later, the aircraft suddenly dropped around 100 feet (30 m), seriously injuring 15 passengers and 3 crew members. The plane turned around and landed safely back in Tokyo, but one passenger, a 32-year-old Japanese woman, died.

The article describes accidents and incidents on Korean Air and its predecessor companies Korean National Airlines and Korean Air Lines.

An Air Data Inertial Reference Unit (ADIRU) is a key component of the integrated Air Data Inertial Reference System (ADIRS), which supplies air data and inertial reference information to the pilots' electronic flight instrument system displays as well as other systems on the aircraft such as the engines, autopilot, aircraft flight control system and landing gear systems. An ADIRU acts as a single, fault tolerant source of navigational data for both pilots of an aircraft. It may be complemented by a secondary attitude air data reference unit (SAARU), as in the Boeing 777 design.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Emergency oxygen system</span> System for providing oxygen in an aircraft during an emergency

Aircraft emergency oxygen systems or air masks are emergency equipment fitted to pressurized commercial aircraft, intended for use when the cabin pressurisation system has failed and the cabin altitude has climbed above a safe level. It consists of a number of individual yellow oxygen masks stored in compartments near passenger seats and near areas like lavatories and galleys, and an oxygen source, like a centralized gaseous cylinder or decentralized chemical oxygen generator.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">British Airways Flight 38</span> 2008 aviation incident at London Heathrow Airport

British Airways Flight 38 was a scheduled international passenger flight from Beijing Capital International Airport in Beijing, China, to London Heathrow Airport in London, United Kingdom, an 8,100-kilometre trip. On 17 January 2008, the Boeing 777-200ER aircraft operating the flight crashed just short of the runway while landing at Heathrow. No fatalities occurred; of the 152 people on board, 47 sustained injuries, one serious. It was the first time in the aircraft type's history that a Boeing 777 was declared a hull loss, and subsequently written off.

During the 1990s, a series of issues affecting the rudder of Boeing 737 passenger aircraft resulted in multiple incidents. In two separate accidents, pilots lost control of their aircraft due to a sudden and unexpected rudder movement, and the resulting crashes killed everyone on board, 157 people in total. Similar rudder issues led to a temporary loss of control on at least one other Boeing 737 flight before the cause of the problem was ultimately identified.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Eastwind Airlines Flight 517</span> 1996 aviation incident

On June 9, 1996, while operating a passenger flight from Trenton, New Jersey to Richmond, Virginia, the crew of Eastwind Airlines Flight 517 temporarily lost control of their Boeing 737-200 because of a rudder malfunction. The crew were able to regain control and land the aircraft successfully. All 53 occupants on board the 737-200 survived with one flight attendant injured.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Qantas Flight 72</span> 2008 aircraft incident

Qantas Flight 72 (QF72) was a scheduled flight from Singapore Changi Airport to Perth Airport by an Airbus A330. On 7 October 2008, the flight made an emergency landing at Learmonth Airport near the town of Exmouth, Western Australia, following an inflight accident that included a pair of sudden, uncommanded pitch-down manoeuvres that caused severe injuries—including fractures, lacerations and spinal injuries—to several of the passengers and crew. At Learmonth, the plane was met by the Royal Flying Doctor Service of Australia and CareFlight. Fourteen people were airlifted to Perth for hospitalisation, with thirty-nine others also attending hospital. In all, one crew member and eleven passengers suffered serious injuries, while eight crew and ninety-nine passengers suffered minor injuries. The Australian Transport Safety Bureau (ATSB) investigation found a fault with one of the aircraft's three air data inertial reference units (ADIRUs) and a previously unknown software design limitation of the Airbus A330's fly-by-wire flight control primary computer (FCPC).

First class is a travel class on some passenger airliners intended to be more luxurious than business class, premium economy, and economy class. Originally all planes offered only one class of service, with a second class appearing first in 1955 when TWA introduced two different types of service on its Super Constellations.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">TWA Flight 742</span> 1973 aviation incident

TWA Flight 742 was a multi-leg Trans World Airlines flight from Bangkok to San Francisco. On August 28, 1973, near the end of its penultimate leg from Honolulu to Los Angeles, during the descent over the Pacific Ocean, the Boeing 707 entered severe porpoising oscillations, resulting in injuries to two crew members and three passengers; one critically injured passenger died two days later.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">United Airlines Flight 328</span> February 2021 Boeing 777 engine failure over Broomfield, Colorado

On February 20, 2021, United Airlines Flight 328 (UA328/UAL328), a scheduled U.S. domestic passenger flight from Denver to Honolulu, suffered what was technically ruled a contained engine failure despite shedding large pieces of debris, approximately four minutes after takeoff from Denver International Airport (DEN). Parts departing from the engine cowling of the Boeing 777-222 aircraft resulted in a debris field at least 1 mile (1.6 km) long over suburban residential areas of Broomfield, Colorado. Falling debris was recorded by eyewitnesses using smartphone cameras and a dash cam. Debris fell through the roof of a private home and significantly damaged a parked vehicle.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Japan Air Lines Cargo Flight 46E</span> 1993 Aviation accident over Alaska

Japan Air Lines Cargo Flight 46E was a scheduled cargo flight on 31 March 1993, operated by Evergreen International Airlines, on behalf of Japan Air Lines, from Anchorage International Airport, in Anchorage, Alaska, to O'Hare International Airport, in Chicago. After departure, while climbing through 2,000 feet, the pylon for engine two detached, causing the whole engine to fall off the wing. The pilots managed to land the 747 back at Anchorage without further incident.

This article is a list of significant events that occur in aviation in 2024.

References

  1. ↑ "Accident Boeing 777-312ER 9V-SWM". aviation-safety.net. Retrieved 23 May 2024.
  2. ↑ Petchenik, Ian (21 May 2024). "1 dead, dozens injured in SQ321 turbulence". Flightradar24 Blog. Retrieved 30 May 2024.
  3. ↑ Petchenik, Ian (21 May 2024). "1 dead, dozens injured in SQ321 turbulence".
  4. 1 2 3 4 Gecsoyler, Sammy; Lowe, Yohannes (21 May 2024). "Singapore Airlines flight: British man dead and 30 injured after severe turbulence – as it happened". The Guardian . Retrieved 21 May 2024.
  5. 1 2 3 4 Amos, Owen; Moloney, Marita; Cursino, Malu (21 May 2024). "British man, 73, dies during severe turbulence on London-Singapore flight". BBC. Retrieved 21 May 2024.
  6. ↑ Rakshika, Vihanya; Hamzah, Aqil; Yufeng, Kok (21 May 2024). "One dead, dozens injured after Singapore Airlines flight from London hit by severe turbulence". The Straits Times. ISSN   0585-3923 . Retrieved 21 May 2024.
  7. ↑ "Singapore Airlines: Passengers describe chaos of fatal turbulence flight". Sky News. 22 May 2024. Retrieved 22 May 2024.
  8. 1 2 Ekvitthayavechnukul, Chalida (21 May 2024). "British man dies and several passengers are injured when turbulence hits a Singapore Airlines flight". Associated Press. Retrieved 21 May 2024.
  9. 1 2 3 4 Tan, Yvette (23 May 2024). "Singapore Airlines apologises for deadly 'traumatic' flight". BBC.
  10. 1 2 "'Sheer terror': Passengers describe turbulence-hit flight that put 20 in intensive care". Associated Press. 22 May 2024. Retrieved 22 May 2024.
  11. 1 2 Napat, Kongsawad (22 May 2024). "Most of passengers from battered Singapore Airlines jetliner arrive in Singapore from Bangkok". Associated Press.
  12. ↑ "They went on a honeymoon to Europe. Then 60 seconds of hell in the air turned it into an experience they'll never forget". Yahoo News. 31 May 2024. Retrieved 1 June 2024.
  13. ↑ "Turbulence horror: newlywed doctors on SQ321 describe treating fellow passengers". South China Morning Post. 31 May 2024. Retrieved 1 June 2024.
  14. ↑ "Three Australians in intensive care in Thailand as more passengers relive extreme turbulence on Singapore Airlines flight". ABC. 23 May 2024. Retrieved 23 May 2024.
  15. ↑ "5 Filipinos, including child, on turbulence-hit flight remain in hospital: embassy". ABS-CBN. 22 May 2024. Retrieved 22 May 2024.
  16. ↑ "Singapore Airlines turbulence: Four Kiwis required hospital treatment following flight SQ321, one remains in intensive care unit". The New Zealand Herald . 23 May 2024. Archived from the original on 23 May 2024. Retrieved 23 May 2024.
  17. ↑ "Toddler among 40 in hospital after turbulence flight". BBC. 23 May 2024. Retrieved 23 May 2024.
  18. ↑ "Singapore Airlines tightens cabin safety measures after turbulence killed one, injured dozens". AP News. 24 May 2024. Retrieved 24 May 2024.
  19. ↑ Tham, Ashley (21 May 2024). "Head injuries and bleeding ears: Passengers recount chaos on turbulent Singapore Airlines flight". CNA. Retrieved 22 May 2024.
  20. ↑ "Elderly British man dies after severe turbulence hits Singapore Airlines flight". CNA. 22 May 2024. Retrieved 22 May 2024.
  21. ↑ "SQ321 turbulence: 'Rapid' G-force changes, altitude drop likely caused injuries to unbelted passengers, crew". CNA. Retrieved 30 May 2024.
  22. ↑ Guinto, Joel; Fraser, Simon; Khalil, Hafsa; Tan, Yvette (22 May 2024). "Singapore Airlines: One dead, several hurt in severe turbulence". BBC News . Archived from the original on 15 June 2024.
  23. ↑ "Singapore Airlines relief flight arrives at Changi Airport after passengers, crew shaken by severe turbulence". CNA. 22 May 2024. Retrieved 22 May 2024.
  24. ↑ "Aircraft hit by severe turbulence returns to Singapore, local media reports". Rappler. 26 May 2024. Retrieved 26 May 2024.
  25. ↑ "Aircraft that operated SQ321 returns to Singapore from Bangkok". CNA. Retrieved 26 May 2024.
  26. ↑ Nian Tjoe, Lee (24 May 2024). "SQ321 incident: S'porean previously in ICU among passengers discharged from Thai hospital". The Straits Times. Retrieved 24 May 2024.
  27. 1 2 Christine, Tan (22 May 2024). "Singapore's transport investigators in Bangkok to probe SQ321 incident". The Straits Times. Retrieved 22 May 2024.
  28. ↑ "Singapore Airlines Flight SQ321 Incident". Ministry of Transport of Singapore. 21 May 2024. Retrieved 24 May 2024.
  29. ↑ "Minister for Transport and Second Minister for Finance Chee Hong Tat s Media Soundbite on Transport Safety Investigation Bureau s Investigation in Singapore Airlines SQ321 Incident". Ministry of Transport of Singapore. 24 May 2024. Retrieved 24 May 2024.
  30. 1 2 "Transport Safety Investigation Bureau Preliminary Investigation Findings of Incident Involving SQ321" (Press release). Ministry of Transport of Singapore. 29 May 2024. Archived from the original on 30 May 2024. Retrieved 30 May 2024.
  31. ↑ "No meal service when seat belt sign on: Singapore Airlines adjusts turbulence measures in wake of SQ321". CNA. Retrieved 23 May 2024.
  32. ↑ "Singapore Airlines turbulence victims offered payout". BBC. Retrieved 11 June 2024.
  33. ↑ "Singapore President Says 'Hope And Pray' Injured Flight Passengers Recover". Barron's. Retrieved 23 May 2024.
This page is based on this Wikipedia article
Text is available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 license; additional terms may apply.
Images, videos and audio are available under their respective licenses.