BANGKOK. Several of the seriously injured passengers from a turbulence-hit Singapore Airlines flight will require spinal surgery, a Bangkok hospital announced on Thursday. The incident, which occurred earlier this week, resulted in severe injuries for many onboard.
The turbulence struck the Boeing 777 as it flew from London’s Heathrow Airport to Singapore on Tuesday, causing chaos in the cabin. Items and passengers were violently thrown around, leading to significant injuries. A 73-year-old British man died, possibly from a heart attack, while 20 people remain in intensive care.
The hospital director, Adinun Kittiratanapaibool, assured during a news conference that none of the ICU patients are in life-threatening condition. These include nationals from Britain, Malaysia, Australia, Singapore, Hong Kong, New Zealand, and the Philippines.
Passengers recounted their experiences of “sheer terror” during the event. Malaysian Amelia Lim, 43, described the scene as horrific, with injured individuals bleeding and lying motionless on the floor. “I was so afraid … I could see so many individuals on the floor, they were all bleeding,” Lim told the Malay Mail.
Thai authorities noted that the turbulence led to a rapid descent of 6,000 feet (about 1,800 meters) within three minutes. The cause of the severe turbulence remains unclear, but the flight was diverted to Thailand following the incident.
Samitivej Srinakarin Hospital, where most of the 104 injured were treated, reported that 22 patients sustained spinal or spinal cord injuries, while others suffered from skull or brain injuries, and damage to bones or internal organs. Seventeen surgeries have already been performed, including nine spinal surgeries.
The hospital is collaborating with local medical specialists to manage the influx of patients. Hospital director Adinun explained that it is still too early to determine if any patients will suffer permanent paralysis.
On Wednesday morning, Singapore Airlines arranged a special flight to transport 143 uninjured or lightly injured passengers to Singapore.
Experts highlight that turbulence, particularly clear air turbulence, poses significant risks. According to the U.S. National Transportation Safety Board, turbulence accounted for 37.6% of all accidents on larger commercial airlines from 2009 to 2018. Anita Mendiratta, a tourism and aviation expert, emphasized the importance of following safety instructions and securing hand baggage to mitigate risks during turbulence.
Paraluman P. Funtanilla
Paraluman P. Funtanilla is Tutubi News Magazine's Marketing Specialist and is a Contributing Editor. She finished her degree in Communication Arts in De La Salle Lipa. She has worked as a Digital Marketer for start-up businesses and small business spaces for the past two years. She has earned certificates from Coursera on Brand Management: Aligning Business Brand and Behavior and Viral Marketing and How to Craft Contagious Content. She also worked with Asia Express Romania TV Show.
