Singapore Airlines offers $10,000 for minor turbulence injuries

Singapore: Singapore Airlines Ltd. has provided compensation to passengers following a turbulent flight incident last month. Passengers who sustained minor injuries are offered US$10,000, with individual discussions for those with more serious turbulence injuries. Additionally, an advance payment of US$25,000 has been provided to those recovering from severe injuries to address immediate needs.

The airline expressed regret for the “traumatic experience” aboard Singapore Airlines flight SQ321. Sadly, a 73-year-old British passenger lost his life due to the turbulence, while several dozen others suffered severe injuries ranging from spinal to skull injuries. The Boeing 777 departed from London Heathrow on May 20th bound for Singapore but encountered extreme turbulence near Myanmar, leading to a diversion to Bangkok.

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In line with regulations, all passengers will receive a refund for their airfare and payouts of up to £520 or 600 euros for the delay. These payments are in addition to the initial S$1,000 (US$739) provided by the airline to cover immediate expenses after the incident. The airline stated that all affected passengers have been notified of the compensation offers via email.

Preliminary investigations indicated that the Singapore Airlines aircraft was caught in a turbulence updraft, causing a sudden drop of almost 180 feet, resulting in most injuries during a 4.6-second period. The report suggested that the jet was likely flying over an area of developing convective activity when the incident occurred, leaving passengers with mere seconds to react to the seatbelt sign being activated.

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