.jpg) 9V-SWM, the aircraft involved in the accident | |
| Accident | |
|---|---|
| Date | 21 May 2024 (2024-05-21) |
| Summary | Severe in-flightturbulence, under investigation |
| Site | overKanasoekone [my] inMyaungmya District, Myanmar 16°31′00″N95°08′56″E / 16.51667°N 95.14889°E /16.51667; 95.14889 |
 | |
| Aircraft | |
| Aircraft type | Boeing 777-312ER[a] |
| Operator | Singapore Airlines |
| IATA flight No. | SQ321 |
| ICAO flight No. | SIA321 |
| Call sign | SINGAPORE 321 |
| Registration | 9V-SWM |
| Flight origin | Heathrow Airport,London, England |
| Destination | Changi Airport,Changi, Singapore |
| Occupants | 229 |
| Passengers | 211 |
| Crew | 18 |
| Fatalities | 1 |
| Injuries | 104 |
| Survivors | 228 |
Singapore Airlines Flight 321 was a scheduledinternational passenger flight operating fromLondon Heathrow Airport inLondon, England, toChangi Airport inChangi, Singapore. On 21 May 2024, theBoeing 777-300ER operating the flight, carrying 211 passengers and 18 crew members, encountered severeturbulence overKanasoekone [my] inMyaungmya District, Myanmar, resulting in the death of a passenger and leaving 144 crew and passengers injured. The aircraft was diverted toSuvarnabhumi Airport inBangkok, Thailand.
The aircraft involved was a 16-year-old Boeing 777-312ER,[a]registered as 9V-SWM, withmanufacturer serial number 34578 and line number 701. It was equipped with twoGeneral Electric GE90-115B engines and was delivered to Singapore Airlines in February 2008.[1][2][3] It was one of two Singapore Airlines Boeing 777-300ERs to be temporarily converted into freighters in 2020, as the airline had tapped into freight as an alternative revenue stream amid depressed passenger demand during theCOVID-19 pandemic.[4][1]
The 777-312ER encountered severeturbulence at around 07:49UTC on 21 May 2024 (14:19local time)[3] overKanasoekone [my] inMyaungmya District, Myanmar, around 360 nautical miles (667 km; 414 mi) fromBangkok.[5][6] Cabin crew members were in the midst of serving breakfast[7] when the turbulence became sufficiently severe for unsecured passengers and objects to become airborne inside the cabin.[5][6] Tracking data showed that the aircraft was at an altitude of 37,000 feet (11,278 m) at the time of the encounter.[8]
Preliminary investigations suggested the flight experienced rapid vertical force changes and an altitude drop of around 177 ft (54 m)[9] The flight was then diverted toBangkok, where it made anemergency landing at 15:45 local time.[10][5][6] Singapore Airlines dispatched a relief flight which carried 131 passengers and 12 crew members to Singapore the next morning.[8][11] It was the first turbulence-related death in civil aviation in 25 years.[12]
One passenger died and 104 others were injured,[13] with 20 of them in intensive care.[14] The sole fatality was a 73-year-oldBritish man travelling with his wife, who was hospitalised.[15] The man had a heart condition and died from a suspectedheart attack.[5][6] At least five medical personnel—a doctor, a nurse and three first aid workers—were passengers and tended to the injured despite sustaining injuries themselves from the turbulence.[16][17] Fifteen Britons,[13] twelve Australians,[18] nine Malaysians,[15] five Filipinos,[19] four New Zealanders, two Singaporeans, one Myanmar and one Hong Konger were also injured.[14][20] The oldest person to receive treatment was 83 years old.[21] 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.[22] Some passengers said the "fasten seat belt" sign was turned on too late to prevent injuries.[23] Images show that theoxygen masks were hanging after parts of the aircraft's interior were damaged.[24][25]
Data from both theflight data recorder (FDR) andcockpit voice recorder (CVR) were subsequently obtained by investigators from theTransport Safety Investigation Bureau (TSIB),[26] a department within theMinistry of Transport of Singapore, who arrived in Bangkok on the night of the accident.[27][28][29]
The USNational 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 07:49:21UTC, 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. Theautopilot, 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 thespeed 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 anupdraft. No further severe turbulence was encountered for the remaining flight to Bangkok.[30]Flight International noted that "The latest interim reports suggest that the captain should have taken account of the fact that there was extensive convective activity close to the aircraft’s flightpath, and should have ordered crew and passengers to be strapped in rather than allowing a meal service to proceed."[31]
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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.[32] The airline offered compensation payments of $10,000 U.S. dollars to victims with minor injuries and an "advance payment" of $25,000 U.S. dollars for those seriously injured as well as further discussions to meet "their specific circumstances". It also offered a full fare refund and $1,000Singapore dollars to all passengers on board to cover immediate expenses and arrangements for relatives to fly to Bangkok where requested.[33]
On 22 May 2024, the CEO of Singapore AirlinesGoh 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 MinisterLawrence Wong[13] and PresidentTharman Shanmugaratnam.[34]
The accident aircraft was subsequently cleared to continue flying, and returned to Singapore on 26 May.[35][36] It subsequently completed a functional flight check on 23 July in preparation for a return to service.[37] On 27 July, the aircraft returned to service and resumed operations, flying from Singapore to Shanghai as SQ830. A Singapore Airlines spokesperson stated that the aircraft also "met the safety requirements set by the aircraft manufacturer, passed stringent safety checks by SIA’s engineering and flight operations teams, and successfully completed a functional check flight before its return to service."[38]
