The 73-year-old Briton died of a heart attack when a flight from London to Singapore was hit by severe turbulence last month and fell more than 50 meters in four seconds.
Tue Jun 11 2024 07:36 UK
Singapore Airlines is offering compensation to injured passengers after a flight from London to Singapore was hit by severe turbulence last month.
One man died and dozens were injured on a Singapore Airlines Boeing 777 flight on 21 May after the plane hit such severe turbulence that it dropped 54 meters in just four seconds.
People described “dropping into the ceiling” as more than 100 passengers and crew remained in hospital, with some undergoing serious “spinal operations”.
In a social media post on Tuesday, the airline outlined the compensation offers it gives to passengers on board the flight.
They again apologized for the “traumatic experience” and said passengers who suffered minor injuries had been offered $10,000 (£7,800).
A $25,000 (£19,600) “deposit” was offered to those who suffered “serious injuries requiring long-term medical care”.
These numbers are part of the “final compensation these passengers will receive,” according to the company.
They added: “We have invited those who suffered more serious injuries in the incident to discuss an offer of compensation to meet each of their particular circumstances when they feel comfortable and ready to do so.”
“I remember waking up on the floor”
In the immediate aftermath of the incident, the airline provided around £500 to each passenger and they covered medical expenses as well as arranging for family members and loved ones to fly to Bangkok – where she made an emergency landing.
The plane hit turbulence over the Andaman Sea and was carrying 211 passengers at the time.
Geoff Kitchen, 73, from Gloucestershire, UK, died of a suspected heart attack after the freak incident, despite the flight crew trying to revive him for 20 minutes.
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Samitivej Srinakarin Hospital said it treated a total of 104 people after the flight was diverted to Thailand.
Six Britons were among those who remained in intensive care.
One of the passengers, Josh Silverstone, told Sky News what happened on board the flight.
He said there was a seat belt warning and then a “huge bang”.
Inside a Singapore Airlines plane that had to make an emergency landing.
“I remember waking up on the floor and just hearing people crying and looking around and seeing blood and the ceiling falling through,” he said.
Mr Silverstone said there was an elderly lady in front of him who couldn’t move and couldn’t remember her name or why she was on the plane, while the cabin crew, who had their own injuries, were lying on the floor with the passengers. make sure they are ok.
It remains unclear what exactly caused the turbulence, but data from Flightradar24 said “the flight encountered a rapid change in vertical velocity, consistent with sudden turbulence.”