sIngapore Airlines Ltd. introduced tighter cabin restrictions as aircraft experienced turbulence after a passenger died and many were injured on a flight from London earlier this week.
The airline said on Friday it is taking a “more cautious approach” to managing turbulence after Flight SQ321 suddenly lost altitude on Tuesday and was forced to make an emergency landing in Bangkok. One man died and dozens of passengers remain in Thai hospitals suffering serious trauma, including spinal cord damage and head injuries.
In-flight meal service will be discontinued when the seat belt sign is lit, in addition to the suspension of hot drinks, the airline said in a statement. Crew members will also return to their seats and fasten their seat belts.
Singapore Air will “continue to review our processes” to prioritize crew and passenger safety, it said.
See more information: ‘Severe turbulence’ on Singapore flight leaving London leaves one dead and several injured
The revised policy does not require all passengers to wear seat belts throughout their journey, regardless of flight conditions at the time. Airlines typically advise travelers to do this and only instruct them to sit down and buckle up during unstable weather.
The injuries suffered by passengers highlight the enormous vertical forces that overwhelm anyone not strapped in when an aircraft suddenly crashes. On flight SQ321, people were catapulted to the cabin ceiling and personal belongings and breakfast service items were thrown around the aircraft.
Some 22 passengers received treatment for spinal injuries and six suffered skull and brain injuries, Samitivej Srinakarin Hospital said on Thursday. Twenty were in intensive care, while 17 underwent surgery. Immediately after the flight, more than 100 people required medical care in Bangkok.
Despite the deaths and number of injuries, airlines are unlikely to require the use of seat belts on all flights, said Ron Bartsch, former head of safety at Qantas Airways Ltd. who previously managed the regulator’s airline operations. of Australia’s civil aviation. Deaths and serious injuries caused by severe turbulence are so rare that it is not worth introducing permanent restrictions that could keep some passengers away, he said.
See more information: Passengers are more concerned about plane safety, even though air travel remains as safe as ever
“I can’t remember the last fatality associated with turbulence. It’s not a common occurrence,” said Bartsch, founder of Sydney-based Avlaw Aviation Consulting Pty and author of books including International Aviation Law: A Practical Guide. “People don’t like being told to put on their seat belts as an obligation and get back in their seats. I don’t expect any major changes in the way airlines operate.”
In its statement, Singapore Air said pilots and cabin crew are aware of the dangers associated with turbulence. Cabin crew are already trained to secure all loose items and equipment to minimize the risk of injury in these situations.
Turbulence can occur when a plane hits a strong air current that pushes or pulls the fuselage. The phenomenon can be caused by hot air pockets or powerful weather systems. At higher altitudes, aircraft may encounter difficult-to-identify clear air turbulence caused by air masses at different speeds.
The forces can throw passengers with such force that it can be dangerous, like falling head first down a staircase or plunging into a shallow concrete pool, according to Rohan Laging, deputy director of emergency services at Melbourne hospital group Alfred Health. .
This story originally appeared on Time.com read the full story
