A 73-year-old British man died of a suspected heart attack when a flight from London to Singapore was hit by severe turbulence last month and fell more than 50 meters in four seconds.
Tuesday June 11, 2024 07:36, UK
Singapore Airlines is offering compensation to injured passengers after a flight from London to Singapore was hit by severe turbulence last month.
One man died and dozens were injured on the Boeing 777 Singapore Airlines flight on May 21 after the plane encountered turbulence so severe that it fell 54 meters in just four seconds.
People described a “launch into the ceiling” as more than 100 passengers and staff required hospital treatment, some undergoing serious “spine surgery”.
In a social media post on Tuesday, the airline outlined the compensation offers it was making to passengers on board the flight.
They reiterated their apologies for the “traumatic experience” and said passengers who suffered minor injuries had been given $10,000 (7,800 euros).
Those who “suffered serious injuries and required long-term medical care” had been given an “advance” of $25,000 (£19,600).
According to the company, these figures are part of “the final compensation these passengers will receive”.
They added: “For those who suffered more serious injuries from the incident, we have invited them to discuss an offer of compensation to meet each of their specific circumstances, when they are feeling well and ready. ”
‘I remember waking up on the floor’
In the immediate aftermath of the incident, the airline provided each passenger with around £500 to cover medical costs and arranged for family members and loved ones to fly to Bangkok, where they made an emergency landing.
The aircraft encountered turbulence over the Andaman Sea and was carrying 211 passengers at the time.
Geoff Kitchen, 73, from Gloucestershire in Britain, died of a suspected heart attack after the bizarre incident, despite the flight crew trying to revive him for 20 minutes.
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Samitivej Srinakarin Hospital said it had provided medical care to a total of 104 people after the flight was diverted to Thailand.
Six Britons were among those in intensive care.
One of the passengers, Josh Silverstone, told Sky News what happened on board the flight.
He said there was a warning to put on seat belts and then a “huge bang”.
On the Singapore Airlines plane that had to make an emergency landing.
“I remember waking up on the floor and hearing people crying, and I looked around and saw blood and the ceiling falling through,” he said.
Mr Silverstone said there was an elderly lady standing in front of him who could not move and could not remember her name or why she was on board, while cabin crew members, who themselves had injuries, lay on the floor with passengers. to make sure they were okay.
It remains unclear what exactly caused the turbulence, but data from Flightradar24 said that “the flight experienced a rapid change in vertical speed, consistent with sudden turbulence”.