Singapore Airlines announced on Tuesday that it has offered $10,000 in compensation to passengers who suffered minor injuries during a turbulent flight last month, with plans to discuss higher payouts for those more severely injured. The flight, SQ321 from London to Singapore, encountered violent turbulence that led to a 73-year-old British man’s death and serious injuries to several other passengers and crew, including skull, brain, and spine injuries.
The Boeing 777-300ER, carrying 211 passengers and 18 crew members, was diverted to Bangkok, where the injured were transported to hospitals. Singapore Airlines has been covering the medical expenses of the injured and facilitated the travel of their family members to Bangkok upon request.
In its statement, the airline mentioned that emails offering $10,000 compensation were sent to passengers with minor injuries. For those with more serious injuries requiring long-term medical care, the airline has proposed an initial advance payment of $25,000, which will be part of the final compensation.
Additionally, the airline will refund the airfares of all passengers on the flight, including those who were not injured. Passengers will also receive delay compensation in accordance with European Union or United Kingdom regulations.
Singapore’s transport ministry reported that the turbulence caused a sudden 54-meter (177-foot) altitude drop, throwing unbelted passengers violently inside the cabin. The incident, over southern Myanmar, involved a rapid change in gravitational force, as noted in a preliminary report by Singapore’s Transport Safety Investigation Bureau (TSIB). The investigation includes experts from the TSIB, the US National Transportation Safety Board, the US Federal Aviation Administration, and Boeing.
Singapore Airlines affirmed its commitment to supporting the affected passengers throughout their recovery and compensation process.
