Singapore Airlines offers compensation to SQ321 passengers: US$10k for minor injuries

SINGAPORE: On Tuesday (11 June), Singapore Airlines sent out compensation offers to passengers of flight SQ321, which encountered extreme turbulence on 21 May, resulting in one fatality and numerous injuries.

Passengers who suffered minor injuries were offered US$10,000 (S$13,534), the national carrier stated in a Facebook post.

Singapore Airlines reiterated its deep apologies for the incident and added that passengers with more serious injuries were invited to discuss compensation offers tailored to their specific circumstances.

The airline has also offered an advance payment of US$25,000 for passengers with serious injuries requiring long-term medical care who need financial assistance. This payment addresses their immediate needs and will be part of the final compensation.

Aside from compensation, Singapore Airlines will provide a full refund of the airfare to all passengers on the flight.

The flight experienced “sudden extreme turbulence” over the Irrawaddy Basin in Myanmar on 21 May, while the Boeing 777-300ER aircraft was en route to Singapore from London.

The pilot declared a medical emergency and landed the plane at Suvarnabhumi Airport in Bangkok, Thailand.

A British passenger, 73-year-old Geoffrey Kitchen, died of a suspected heart attack, and dozens were injured.

There were 211 passengers and 18 crew members on board. The injured were taken to Samitivej Srinakarin Hospital, Samitivej Sukhumvit Hospital, and Bangkok Hospital for treatment.

The refund will also be given to passengers who were not injured.

Singapore Airlines also announced that “delay compensation” will be provided in accordance with relevant regulations in either the European Union or UK.

Upon departing from Bangkok, where SQ321 made an emergency landing, passengers were given S$1,000 each to cover their immediate expenses.

The airline stated it has been covering the medical expenses of those injured and has arranged for family members and loved ones to travel to Bangkok upon request.

“All affected passengers should have received their offers of compensation via e-mail, along with information on how they may proceed with their claims,” the airline said.

‘Rapid’ G-force changes and altitude drop in preliminary report linked to injuries on Flight SQ321

On 29 May, The Ministry of Transport (MOT)  released preliminary findings from the Transport Safety Investigation Bureau (TSIB), revealing startling details about the event.

The TSIB’s investigation has been comprehensive, involving not only local investigators but also international representatives from the U.S. National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB), Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), and Boeing.

The investigation team has “compiled a chronology of events based on preliminary analysis of the data from FDR and CVR,” highlighting several critical moments during the flight.

According to the MOT’s statement, SQ321 departed London on 20 May and was flying normally prior to the turbulence event.

At 07:49:21 hr (UTC) on 21 May 24, the aircraft was passing over the south of Myanmar at 37,000 ft and likely flying over an area of developing convective activity.

It was then noted that the flight data recorder and cockpit voice recorder from SQ321 indicated that the aircraft experienced rapid changes in gravitational force. The gravitational force (G) recorded as vertical accelerations, fluctuated between +0.44G and +1.57G for a period of about 19 seconds.

“The rapid changes in G over the 4.6 sec duration resulted in an altitude drop of 178 ft [54 metres], from 37,362 ft to 37,184 ft. This sequence of events likely caused the injuries to the crew and passengers,” said MOT.

An uncommanded altitude increase was observed shortly afterward, prompting the autopilot to pitch the aircraft downwards. This was complicated by an increase in airspeed, which the pilots managed by extending the speed brakes.

The most severe moment occurred at 07:49:40 UTC, when vertical acceleration shifted from a positive 1.35G to a negative 1.5G in less than a second, causing unbelted occupants to become airborne.

Seconds later, the force shifted back to positive, leading to their forceful return to their seats or the floor.

The MOT report detailed, “This likely resulted in the occupants who were airborne to fall back down.”

Amid these rapid changes, the pilots manually controlled the aircraft for 21 seconds before reengaging the autopilot.

The aircraft subsequently stabilized and returned to its original altitude of 37,000 feet.

Following the incident, the injured passengers were assessed by the cabin crew, leading to the decision to divert the plane to Bangkok’s Suvarnabhumi Airport, where medical services were requested upon arrival.

The investigation is ongoing, with contributions from the TSIB, the U.S. National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB), Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), and Boeing.