Singapore Airlines changes policies and flight routing after fatal turbulence incident – Boeing (NYSE:BA)

Singapore Airlines has revised its seatbelt sign policies and changed a flight route following a fatal turbulence event earlier this week.

What happened: The airline said it is now taking more cautious measures during turbulence, including not serving hot drinks or meals when the fasten seatbelt sign is illuminated, according to a statement to Channel News Asia reported by Reuters on Friday.

Flight data shows that route SQ321 has since avoided the part of Myanmar where the turbulence occurred and instead flies over the Bay of Bengal and the Andaman Sea. Flight times remain unchanged.

The turbulence incident occurred on Tuesday during flight SQ321 from London to Singapore, operated by a Boeing (NYSE:BA) 777-300ER. The aircraft, carrying 211 passengers and 18 crew members, was forced to make an emergency landing in Bangkok after severe turbulence resulted in injuries and one death.

Photos from inside the plane showed extensive damage, including cracks in the cabin panels and oxygen masks hanging from the ceiling. Some passengers had hit their heads on the lights, causing the panels to shatter.

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As of Thursday evening, 46 passengers and two crew members were hospitalized in Bangkok, 20 of them in intensive care, according to an official at Samitivej Srinakarin Hospital. The injuries include spinal cord, brain and skull injuries.

Why it is important: The turbulence incident on Singapore Airlines flight SQ321 has raised significant safety concerns. On May 21, a report detailed the severe turbulence that left one person dead and several injured. The plane plummeted 6,000 feet in three minutes, causing chaos and panic among passengers.

One passenger described the harrowing experience, saying it felt like we had crashed. This incident prompted Singapore Airlines to take immediate measures to ensure passenger safety, including changing flight routes and revising seatbelt sign policies.

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Image via Shutterstock

This story was created with Benzinga Neuro and edited by Pooja Rajkumari