7 injured after Scoot flight en route to Guangzhou hits turbulence
Published on: Saturday, September 07, 2024
By: FMT
The Boeing 787-9 Dreamliner aircraft encountered turbulence as it was approaching Guangzhou. (EPA Images pic)
PETALING JAYA: Four passengers and three crew members were injured after a Scoot flight from Singapore to Guangzhou, China, hit turbulence yesterday morning, according to a local media report.
One passenger was hospitalised for further observation as of 8.30pm local time on Friday, the Straits Times reported quoting the low-cost subsidiary of Singapore Airlines.
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In the incident, the Boeing 787-9 Dreamliner aircraft encountered turbulence as it was approaching Guangzhou, Bernama reported.
It landed uneventfully at 9.10am.
Scoot said that its priority is the welfare of its passengers and cabin crew and will provide all necessary support and assistance required.
Scoot did not give details on the number of passengers and crew on board the flight.
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Other flights have also been affected by similar turbulence.
On May 21, one person died after a Singapore Airlines flight from London to Singapore encountered severe turbulence. The 73-year-old passenger was reported to have died of a suspected heart attack.
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It left London’s Heathrow Airport at 10.38pm local time and was diverted to Bangkok’s Suvarnabhumi Airport.
Reuters reported that the flight made an emergency landing due to bad weather conditions. It also reported that 30 passengers aboard the flight were injured.
Passengers said crew and those not strapped in left the floor or their seats and slammed into the cabin ceiling, cracking it in places.
A Bangkok hospital treating passengers said there were spinal cord, brain and skull injuries.
Singapore Airlines has sent offers of compensation to passengers on board the flight. Passengers with minor injuries were offered US$10,000 and those with serious injuries were asked to discuss an offer to meet their specific needs, the airline said.
The incident put seatbelt practices in the spotlight, with airlines typically allowing passengers to undo belts during normal cruise conditions, while recommending they keep them on.
On Sept 5, a Turkish Airlines flight departing Istanbul to Taipei encountered severe turbulence, British tabloid The Mirror reported.
Two out of 17 crew members and five of the 214 passengers on board were injured. Two were taken to hospital for treatment.
A BBC report in May cited a study that said that aircraft encounter moderate to "severe or greater" turbulence 68,000 times every year.
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