Singapore Airlines Flight 321

The aircraft involved was a 16-year-old Boeing 777-300ER, registered as 9V-SWM, with manufacturer serial number 34578 and line number 701. It was equipped with two General Electric GE90-115B engines and was delivered to Singapore Airlines in February 2008. 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 the COVID-19 pandemic. == Accident ==

The 777-312ER encountered severe turbulence at around 07:49 UTC on 21 May 2024 (14:19 local time) when the turbulence became sufficiently severe for unsecured passengers and objects to become airborne inside the cabin. The flight was then diverted to Bangkok, where it made an emergency landing at 15:45 local time. Singapore Airlines dispatched a relief flight which carried 131 passengers and 12 crew members to Singapore the next morning. It was the first turbulence-related death in civil aviation in 25 years. Injuries One passenger died and 104 others were injured, with 20 of them in intensive care. The sole fatality was a 73-year-old British man travelling with his wife, who was hospitalised. The man had a heart condition and died from a suspected heart attack. Fifteen Britons, nine Malaysians, four New Zealanders, two Singaporeans, one Myanmar and one Hong Konger were also injured. The oldest person to receive treatment was 83 years old. 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. Some passengers said the "fasten seat belt" sign was turned on too late to prevent injuries. Images show that the oxygen masks were hanging after parts of the aircraft's interior were damaged. == 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), a department within the Ministry of Transport of Singapore, who arrived in Bangkok on the night of the accident. 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. Through this 4.6 second sequence, the aircraft was recorded as dropping from to , a fall of . 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. == 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. The airline offered compensation payments of $10,000 US dollars to victims with minor injuries and an "advance payment" of $25,000 US dollars for those seriously injured as well as further discussions to meet "their specific circumstances". It also offered a full fare refund and $1,000 Singapore dollars to all passengers on board to cover immediate expenses and arrangements for relatives to fly to Bangkok where requested. On 22 May 2024, the CEO of Singapore Airlines Goh Choon Phong apologised 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 The accident aircraft was subsequently cleared to continue flying, and returned to Singapore on 26 May. It subsequently completed a functional flight check on 23 July in preparation for a return to service. 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." == See also ==