SINGAPORE- One year has passed since Singapore Airlines (SQ) Flight 321 encountered what the airline described as “clear air turbulence” over Myanmar on May 21, 2024.
The incident resulted in injuries to more than 70 people and claimed one life while the aircraft travelled from London (LHR) to Singapore (SIN) with many Australian passengers onboard.
Photo: By N509FZ – Own work, CC BY-SA 4.0, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=87593522Singapore Airlines Turbulence Incident
The Boeing 777-300ER operating Singapore Airlines (SQ) Flight 321, a regular international service connecting London Heathrow (LHR) to Singapore Changi Airport (SIN), encountered extreme turbulence while crossing the Irrawaddy Basin in Myanmar’s Myaungmya District on May 21, 2024.
The severe incident claimed one passenger’s life and left 144 people injured among the 211 passengers and 18 crew members onboard. Following the turbulence event, the aircraft diverted to Bangkok’s Suvarnabhumi Airport (BKK) rather than continuing to its intended destination.
Aftermath of Singapore Airlines flight 321 from London to Singapore which had to divert to Bangkok due to severe turbulence. One death passenger and several injured. Blood everywhere, destroyed cabin. #singaporeairlines #sq321 pic.twitter.com/C2FgrVt9yv
— Josh Cahill (@gotravelyourway) May 21, 2024
An Australian law firm specialising in aviation accident compensation reveals it continues conducting detailed medical evaluations to determine the full extent of passengers’ injuries. These assessments aim to document both physical trauma and psychological damage suffered during the incident.
Legal Representation
Peter Carter, Director of Carter Capner Law and former president of the Aviation Law Association, now represents 11 passengers directly affected by the incident.
His firm also investigates claims for additional passengers who, while not physically injured, experience significant psychological trauma resulting from the event.
“Many of our clients exhibit PTSD symptoms as a result of this terrifying mid-air experience. They thought they were going to die.”
Peter Carter, Director, Carter Capner Law
The psychological impact continues to affect daily functioning for numerous survivors one year after the incident.
Singapore Airlines Flight 321 Aftermath; Photo- @fl360aero (X)Documenting Trauma
Carter noted that compensation for PTSD typically requires demonstration of physical manifestations of the psychological trauma. To address this challenge, his firm employs cutting-edge medical technology in its case preparation.
“To this end, our medical experts are utilising leading-edge brain scanning techniques to image brain abnormalities,” he stated. “We are optimistic to also be able to recover substantial damages for PTSD injuries for affected passengers, including those who have no other physical injuries.”
The firm plans to present formal compensation demands to Singapore Airlines’ insurers by September 2024. Based on their assessment of damages, Carter believes many passengers will receive compensation “well over US$1 million.”
9V-SWM parked at Singapore Changi Airport, on 5 June 2024, in the aftermath of the accident; Photo- WikipediaInvestigation Findings
The interim accident report confirms the severe forces passengers experienced during the turbulence incident. The aircraft experienced a dramatic shift in vertical acceleration from +1.35G to -1.5 G forces sufficient to cause serious injuries even to properly restrained passengers.
Under standard aviation protocols, if Singapore Airlines (SQ) demonstrates it had no responsibility for the incident, its liability may be limited to US$180,000 per passenger for proven losses. However, Carter Capner Law’s investigation suggests potential airline culpability.
“The pilots likely encountered a thunderstorm at too close proximity as it passed over an area notorious for thunderstorm activity in the Inter Tropical Convergence Zone.”
Carter’s investigation
He further noted that while other aircraft diverted around the weather system, “Flight SQ321 headed directly through the suspect area.”
May 21st 2024: Aftermath of Singapore Airlines flight 321 from London to Singapore which had to divert to Bangkok due to severe turbulence. One death and several injured. pic.twitter.com/xc608oDIoZ
— Aviation (@webflite) May 21, 2024
Final Report Awaited
The Singaporean Transport Safety Investigation Bureau (TSIB) is expected to release its final accident report by mid-2024, which may provide additional clarity regarding the circumstances surrounding the incident and potential liability.
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Singapore Airlines Offering Compensation to Pax Affected by Turbulence
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