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Singapore Airlines SQ321 turbulence: rapid G-force changes over 4.6 seconds likely caused injuries, investigators say
- The preliminary findings by a team of investigators looking into the incident showed the flight was normal before the turbulence event
- A former Singapore Airlines pilot compares rapid gravitational force changes to ‘a roller-coaster going from the peak to the bottom of the ride’
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The turbulence experienced on Singapore Airlines flight SQ321 was likely caused by rapid changes to the gravitational force (G) exerted on the aircraft after an “uncommanded increase in aircraft altitude and airspeed”, preliminary investigations have found.
The rapid changes in gravitational force over 4.6 seconds resulted in an altitude drop of 178 feet (54 metres), which likely caused the injuries to the crew and passengers, said Singapore’s Transport Ministry on Wednesday.
The preliminary findings come just a week after the Singapore Airlines Boeing 777-300ER flight to Singapore from London on May 21 encountered extreme turbulence. One passenger died of a suspected heart attack, while at least 40 were injured. The plane made an emergency diversion to Bangkok.
Aviation experts told This Week In Asia that the preliminary findings did not reveal anything surprising and were par for the course in such aviation investigations.
Following the incident, Singapore Airlines announced last week that it would suspend meal services and have crew members return to their seats and put on their seat belts during an activation of the seat belt sign, in a move to take on “a more cautious approach to managing turbulence in-flight”.
The crew would also continue to advise passengers to return to their seats and secure their seat belts, and monitor customers who may require help, including those in the lavatories, a Singapore Airlines spokeswoman said.
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