SQ 321

#SQ321

#SingaporeAirlines

#Boeing777_300ER

Singapore Airlines Flight SQ321 (callsign SIA321), a Boeing 777‑300ER (tail number 9V‑SWM), was en route from London Heathrow to Singapore on May 20–21, 2024, when it encountered sudden, extreme turbulence over Myanmar. Here’s what happened:

Incident Overview

Time & Location: Around 07:49 UTC (14:19 local time) on May 21, 2024, over the Irrawaddy Basin in Myanmar .

Turbulence Severity: The aircraft dropped roughly 178 ft in just 4.6 seconds, with rapid G‑force swings from +1.35 G to –1.5 G then +1.5 G .

Casualties & Injuries:

1 passenger (73‑year‑old British man) died, likely from a heart attack during the event .

Over 70 others were injured—ranging from minor to serious (concussions, spinal and skull injuries) .

Response & Aftermath

Emergency Landing: The flight diverted and landed safely in Bangkok’s Suvarnabhumi Airport, where injured passengers received medical attention .

Relief Flight: A Singapore Airlines relief flight carried most passengers back to Singapore the following morning .

Investigation Status: Singapore’s Transport Safety Investigation Bureau conducted a preliminary probe; it’s ongoing. Key components of the aircraft’s weather radar have been sent to the U.S. for further testing .

• Lessons & Policy Changes:

Seat‑belt sign enforcement tightened; cabin service protocols updated (e.g., no hot beverages when the sign is on)  .

Industry attention to improved turbulence forecasting has grown, especially in light of climate change concerns .

What Caused It?

Severe clear‑air turbulence stemming from rapidly developing convective storms was likely the cause. Satellite data confirms violent cloud growth near the flight path .

Current Status

The aircraft was inspected, cleared, and returned to service on July 27, 2024 .

Flight SQ321 remains regularly scheduled; it continues to operate nightly between London and Singapore with normal timings .

In short: SQ321 experienced a rare and violent turbulence incident that resulted in one fatality and many injuries.

The successful emergency landing, relief efforts, and ongoing investigation highlight improvements in airline safety procedures.

Singapore Airlines has since revised cabin protocols, and broader industry measures are under review to enhance turbulence detection and passenger safety standards.

#SingaporeAirlines

#SQ321

#Turbulance