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Early investigations into extreme turbulence that hit a Singapore Airways flight final Tuesday reveal it dropped round 178ft (54m) over 4.6 seconds.
One British passenger died and dozens extra had been injured when the London-Singapore flight encountered the turbulence over Myanmar and was diverted to Thailand.
Singaporean investigators have extracted information saved within the flight information recorder and cockpit voice recorder of the plane.
Singapore Airways mentioned it was co-operating with investigators and supporting affected passengers and crew, together with with medical and hospital bills.
The Transport Security Investigation Bureau’s (TSIB) preliminary findings discovered fast adjustments in gravitational power (G) and the altitude drop – a distance virtually equal to the peak of Italy’s Leaning Tower of Pisa – doubtless injured those that weren’t carrying seatbelts.
ReutersIt mentioned the flight operated as regular till it in all probability flew over an space of “developing convective activity” whereas passing over the south of Myanmar at 37,000ft (11,300m).
“The rapid changes in G over the 4.6 seconds duration resulted in an altitude drop of 178ft (54m), from 37,362ft to 37,184ft,” the TSIB report mentioned.
“This sequence of events likely caused the injuries to the crew and passengers.
“After the pilots had been knowledgeable by the cabin crew that there have been injured passengers within the cabin, the choice was made to divert to Suvarnabhumi Airport, Bangkok, Thailand.”
Approximately 17 minutes after the turbulence event, the pilots were able to make a “managed descent from 37,000ft”, the report said, adding the aircraft did not encounter any more severe turbulence during its diversion to Bangkok.
The pilots also requested for medical services to meet the aircraft on arrival.
TSIB, which operates under Singapore’s transport ministry, said its investigations were ongoing.
There were 211 passengers and 18 crew onboard the Boeing 777-300ER aircraft, according to Singapore Airlines.
Geoff Kitchen, 73, died from a suspected heart attack onboard, while 104 other passengers were taken to Bangkok’s Samitivej Hospital for treatment.
Ali Bukhari, 27, who was seated with his wife Ramiza, told the BBC the aircraft went into “straight freefall”.
“It was terrifying. It is identical to taking place a vertical curler coaster,” he mentioned.
“Oxygen masks had all come out, elements of the inside of the aircraft had been broken… I assumed that was from the power of the turbulence however a number of it was simply because everybody who wasn’t carrying a seatbelt flew proper into the air and hit the ceiling.
“We noticed blood on the ceiling… It was simply full havoc. Lots of people had been on the ground.”
Singapore Airlines said it was committed to supporting crew members and passengers who were onboard Tuesday’s flight.
“This contains overlaying their medical and hospital bills, in addition to any extra help they could want,” the airline said on social media.
“The security and well-being of our passengers and workers are our prime priorities.
“We deeply appreciate the invaluable assistance provided by the governments of Singapore and Thailand, as well as our many partners and the medical teams in both countries and around the world.”
Final Thursday, the director of Samitivej Srinakarin Hospital mentioned workers initially handled six individuals for cranium and mind accidents, 22 for spinal accidents, and 13 for bone, muscle and different accidents.
“We have never treated people with these kinds of injuries caused by turbulence,” Adinun Kittiratanapaibool advised reporters.
As of Wednesday, 42 passengers who had been on the flight had been nonetheless in Bangkok, based on Singapore Airways – of which 26 had been in hospital receiving medical remedy.
