A passenger aboard a flight from London to Singapore described the harrowing experience of extreme turbulence mid-flight that resulted in chaos and one passenger dead.
According to CNN, Andrew Davies was among 211 passengers aboard Singapore Airlines flight SQ321 that departed London on Monday.
Roughly ten hours into the flight, the Boeing 777-300ER aircraft had to make an emergency landing in Bangkok after it hit violent turbulence, leading to a 6,000-foot emergency descent.
The violent flightpath resulted in dozens of injured passengers and the death of a British passenger who presumably died from a heart attack.
Davies is a seasoned traveler of transatlantic flights. He explained things were "perfectly normal" at first and that the flight felt smooth without any initial turbulence.
However, while watching a movie with his headphones on ten hours after the take-off, he saw the seatbelt sign light up and immediately buckled up.
“Thank goodness I did," he said, "because, within moments of doing that, all hell broke loose.”
You can watch the CNN news report here.
“All hell broke loose.”
Andrew Davies was on board the Singapore Airlines flight that turned deadly. He tells @ErinBurnett what he saw pic.twitter.com/FSa5XBtF7O
— Erin Burnett OutFront (@OutFrontCNN) May 22, 2024
Davies continued:
“The plane just felt like it dropped."
"It probably only lasted a few seconds, but I remember vividly seeing shoes and iPads and iPhones and cushions and blankets and cutlery and plates and cups flying through the air and crashing into the ceiling."
He said he was doused by coffee from the cup of a passenger sitting next to him.
CNN host Erin Burnett said there were more than 70 reported injuries, including broken bones and seven passengers who were in critical condition.
When the plane leveled off and Davies turned and saw a fellow female traveler with a big gash on her head and "blood pouring down her face," he realized the severity of the pandemonium passengers had just experienced.
More footage from the horrific flight was shared online.
Grim footage from the Singapore Airlines Boeing 777 flight from London to SG. Passengers were flung to the ceiling when it experienced a 7,000 ft drop. pic.twitter.com/iqsefWFELG
— Ian Miles Cheong (@stillgray) May 21, 2024
Crazy footage shows the aftermath of a Singapore Airlines plane that suffered extreme turbulence during a flight from London. Tragically, one person, a 73-year-old British man, died, "likely" from a heart attack.
53 passengers and one crew member were also Injured during the… pic.twitter.com/ccNbLJtIc2
— Morbid Knowledge (@Morbidful) May 21, 2024
Boeing airline need investigation as A 73-year-old British man died and several others were injured after severe turbulence struck a London-Singapore flight. Video from the scene shows the chaotic aftermath.
pic.twitter.com/loqR1cehJk
— Winnie Schola (@WinnieSchola) May 21, 2024
The incident served as a reminder to heed in-flight warning signs.
Keep your seatbelt on during the whole flight.
Top tip that airlines simply don’t stress enough.
Although I have noticed them doing so more recently.
— Miss Jo (@therealmissjo) May 21, 2024
What causes a drop like that? Folks, wear your seatbelts when seated.
— Juanita Broaddrick (@atensnut) May 21, 2024
This is why it is essential to remain fastened to your seatbelt at all times except when you’re not on your seat. I hope they are all ok
— Deblak (@Deblak26) May 21, 2024
Keep those seatbelts fasten folks.
— Old Bearded Man (@1OldBeardedMan) May 21, 2024
Clear air turbulence is why I buckle up the minute I sit down, and have my seatbelt on the whole flight.
Boeing pilots wear a 5 point harness. Just saying.
— Vievie (@just_vievie_) May 21, 2024
Davies noted that the passenger who died was seated behind him.
He recalled assisting with the emergency before the gentleman was pronounced dead at the scene.
“We tended to this gentleman and I helped carry him, get him out of the seat, and we lay him on the floor so that some medical professionals could administer CPR... for at least 20 minutes," said Davies.
The deceased passenger was identified as 73-year-old Geoffrey Kitchen, a musical theater director from southwest England.
Boeing passenger Geoffrey Kitchen, a 73-year-old British citizen and musical theatre director just died on a Boeing 777 flight due to a heart attack.
Boeing offers condolences after he was killed on a Boeing 777 plane, saying their “thoughts” are with the passengers and crew.… pic.twitter.com/Wo5GnGbXsC
— Thoȝtful Road (@tho_tfulRoad) May 21, 2024
Davies said he was seated next to Kitchen's wife, who was in "severe shock."
The drop in height can cause injuries. My heart goes to the family of the deceased man! 🙏🙏 pic.twitter.com/dgTXrePwhP
— Christy Jane (@cathebely) May 21, 2024
What an awful shame bless him.
— Simon Rowley (@SimonRo38559857) May 22, 2024
Medics boarded when the plane landed safely to tend to the injured and rattled passengers.
In the aftermath of the nightmarish journey, Davies noticed the other passengers exhibited “extraordinary kindness” while commiserating over the shared trauma and even exchanging contact information.
CNN reported that the plane "likely encountered rapidly developing thunderstorms over southern Myanmar on Tuesday during the time that extreme turbulence was reported."
Paul Williams, a professor of atmospheric science at the University of Reading in the UK said in a statement:
“Turbulence fatalities on commercial flights are fortunately very rare, but have sadly increased by one today."