Malaysian passenger recounts harrowing experience during violent turbulence that caused injuries and led to emergency landing in Bangkok.
SINGAPORE: For Malaysian student Dzafran Azmir, the turbulence that hit Singapore Airlines flight SQ321 from London to Singapore on Tuesday was a terrifying experience. But, thanks to his decision to keep his seatbelt fastened, he emerged unscathed when the plane encountered severe turbulence, sending unbuckled passengers crashing into the ceiling.
The flight had been uneventful, with the seatbelt sign off and food being served when the turbulence struck. Dzafran, a 28-year-old student, was among those who kept their seatbelt on, despite the sign being off. “I just leave it on,” he said, a decision that likely saved him from injury.
The plane, en route from Heathrow to Singapore, encountered extreme turbulence over Myanmar’s Irrawaddy Basin, about 10 hours into the flight. The sudden violent shaking sent unsecured passengers flying into the overhead compartments, causing head injuries and panic throughout the cabin. Mr. Dzafran described the experience as similar to being “on the crest of a really tall roller coaster,” with a sense of anticipation followed by an abrupt and violent drop.
“Everything happened really in a flash,” he recalled. Passengers screamed as they were thrown from their seats, slamming into various parts of the cabin. Despite the chaos, Dzafran kept his calm, and after the turbulence subsided, he helped others find their phones, which had been ripped from their hands during the jolt.
The plane was forced to make an emergency landing at Bangkok’s Suvarnabhumi Airport. When it touched down, the damage became apparent: broken overhead panels, and some passengers were severely injured. Emergency responders arrived to help, carrying those who could not walk from the plane.
“We started seeing people from the fire department rescue team come in with stretchers to help the victims,” Dzafran recalled, reflecting on one of the most shocking moments of the ordeal. “It was a smooth process, and everyone who was uninjured received the attention they needed.”
After a long wait, the passengers were transferred to a relief flight to Singapore, where Dzafran finally felt a sense of relief that the ordeal was over. “We received a very comforting message from the crew,” he said, thankful to have escaped physically unharmed.
Investigations into the cause of the turbulence will be thorough, with experts pointing to clear air turbulence as a potential cause. This kind of turbulence is notoriously difficult to predict, as it can occur without any visible cues. Investigators will examine flight data from the cockpit voice recorder and flight data recorder to understand the full scope of the event.
As authorities look into the incident, the focus remains on how such extreme turbulence was able to catch the crew and passengers off guard, leading to a harrowing moment of terror in the skies.
