A Singapore Airlines flight from London to Singapore experienced severe turbulence, resulting in the death of one passenger and injuries to at least 71 others.

 

A Singapore Airlines flight from London to Singapore experienced severe turbulence, resulting in the death of one passenger and injuries to at least 71 others. The Boeing 777-300ER, carrying 211 passengers and 18 crew, diverted to Bangkok. Initially, the airline reported 30 injured passengers, but this number later increased. The deceased, a 73-year-old British man named Geoff Kitchen, suffered from a pre-existing heart condition. He was confirmed dead by the Thornbury Musical Theatre Group, where he had been a long-time member. 

The flight landed in Bangkok at 3:45 p.m. local time, where emergency services attended to the injured. Most injuries were minor, though some passengers sustained broken arms. Those injured received treatment at local hospitals, while others were given outpatient care at the airport. Almost 200 passengers awaited further travel arrangements, and a replacement Singapore Airlines flight carried 131 passengers onward to Singapore.

The turbulence occurred over Myanmar at 37,000 feet, about 10 hours into the flight, likely due to rapidly developing thunderstorms. The aviation tracking site FlightRadar24 indicated a significant change in the flight's vertical rate, consistent with sudden turbulence, causing the aircraft to dip and climb multiple times within 90 seconds. The pilot declared a medical emergency, leading to the diversion to Bangkok. The thunderstorms, typical for the monsoon season in South Asia, were forming quickly and may not have appeared on radar initially, despite their potential to cause severe turbulence.