SIA 777 involved in fatal turbulence incident has not yet returned to service | News

The Singapore Airlines Boeing 777-300ER that was involved in fatal turbulence in May remains grounded and has not operated a single flight since returning to Singapore in late May.

Flight tracking data shows the last flight It is now over a month since the plane flew from Bangkok – where it made an emergency landing – to Singapore on May 26.

The 777 (9V-SWM, MSN34578) was on flight SQ321 from London to Singapore on 21 May when it was hit by severe turbulence over the Irrawaddy River basin.

One passenger died and several other passengers and crew members were injured in the incident. Parts of the aircraft’s cabin were damaged in the incident and passengers were reportedly thrown from their seats.

The 777, carrying 211 passengers and 18 crew, was diverted to Bangkok after the crew declared a medical emergency and landed at 3:45 p.m. local time on May 21.

The investigation into the incident is ongoing, but a preliminary report found that an “unintended” increase in altitude and speed – likely caused by an updraft – led to the in-flight disturbance. Investigators also found that the disturbance was accompanied by a “rapid” change in gravitational forces – of about 3g – that lasted for nearly 5 seconds.

FlightGlobal has asked SIA for comment on when the 777 will return to service, but the airline declined to comment.

Cirium fleet data shows that 9V-SWM was delivered in February 2008.