Singapore flight turbulence tragedy

I flew long haul to East Asia frequently. It doesn’t put me off. There are many flights and this make the news because it’s so rare. You don’t hear people dying in car accidents making the news.

@Chersfrozenface that’s shocking, thank you.

That level of flight turbulence is pretty rare but does happen. For that reason, I always keep by seat belt fastened but just loosen it a little for more comfort. Enough that I can slide my hand under the seat belt. A good idea to do if you're trying to sleep anyway as the cabin crew don't have to wake you up to tell you to fasten it if necessary mid-flight.

Only one death, the poor British man.

31 injured enough to go to hospital, six of them critically. Others have more minor injuries.

That's out of 211 passengers and 18 crew

Statistically with climate change now increasingly a factor aren’t certain routes more problematic?

Also, do they immediately service planes after these sorts of incidents? Stress fractures etc? Prob spent too long watching those plane crash investigations.

When you consider the thousands of flights that take place daily, and how few have an issue - it's more dangerous to travel in a car.

I heard all flight crew injured to some extent (Times) & 2 deaths so far (?)

No it hasn't put me off. I was actually on a flight last night which was pretty turbulent but I still enjoy flying and it is one of the safest ways to travel. The only reason this awful tragedy is making the news is that these things so rarely happen. Think how many car accidents happen all over the world every single minute of every day

Perfectly reasonable response to a horrible event.

As others have said ALWAYS keep your seat belt on - you don't have to have as tight as you would for take off and landing, slacken it off but keep it on at all times. I am always dismayed when I hear all the click, click clicks of folk taking theirs off as soon as the seatbelt sign goes off, it really can save your life if you use it right.

Similar, although not as bad, happened to my grandparents in the 1980's- so 40yrs ago. They hit dead air and the plane suddenly dropped. My grandfather was seated with his belt on. The stewardess who was walking past flew up to the ceiling, but he grabbed her and pulled her down before she hit her head! Incredibly rare and this is the 1st case I've heard of in those 40yrs.

OP- most airports/airlines run anxious flyer courses which might help you.

https://www.britishairways.com/content/information/travel-assistance/flying-with-confidence

https://www.fearlessflyer.easyjet.com/about-course/courses.php?s=gatwick#.U-ImGONdWuI

https://www.hypnotherapy-directory.org.uk/articles/fearofflying.html

I’ve done this Singapore to London flight quite a few times and it is LONG, for those who say they always leave their seatbelt on when flying and never go to the loo!

Long like nearly 14 hours.

@Confortableorwhat

So people keep saying, but funnily enough I think the sudden 6000ft drop might have had something to do with the heart attack.

@Freespirit44 please try not to spiral. It's because it's so incredibly rare, that it's made the news. Flying is SO much safer than driving, or taking the train/bus.

A little question for people who are flight crew, if they wouldn’t mind answering. Do the pilots keep their seat belts on throughout the flight, so that they wouldn’t be affected if this happens?

I don't fly very often but when I do I always keep my seatbelt on. I never use the loo so no need to undo the belt

Forget previous post, just found it. Sounds like it happened really quickly. How frightening.
https://www.msn.com/en-gb/travel/news/singapore-airlines-british-man-73-dies-after-flight-from-heathrow-hits-extreme-turbulence/ar-BB1mLJPM?ocid=BingNewsSerp

Is there a link to this please, not seen this story, sounds terrifying

www.newsweek.com/woman-jelly-trick-cured-fear-flying-15-million-views-1716464#:~:text=As%20the%20paper%20sits%20in,%3A%20%22It's%20stuck%20in%20there.

This jelly comparison really helps me when there's turbulence.

This is a terrible tragedy - I have been guilty of being sat in my seat without a seatbelt on and will certainly be changing that behaviour moving forward.

I’ve flown this leg with Singapore airlines many times. They are usually very strict with keeping seatbelts on when in your seat and taking babies out of their bassinet at the first sign of turbulence. This must have been so sudden.

I’m quite scared of flying and I hate hate hate turbulence but this incident hasn’t made me any more nervous.
In fact maybe made me slightly less scared for now as
a. Even in such extreme conditions most people were safe particularly those with seatbelts on
b. It’s such a rarity that statistically it’s unlikely to happen again in near future

obviously very sad for the person who has died and terrifying for the passengers and crew

Briefly worked as cabin crew so always, always keep seatbelt fastened. Incidents as severe as this are rare.

Interestingly, there are a few hotspots for turbulence, Bay of Bengal is usually a bit bumpy, South China Sea too. I’ve been on literally hundreds of flights and the only one that sticks out for me was one from Sydney to Singapore, the pilot warned us well in advance of turbulence over Indonesia. Everyone, including crew and trollies, were strapped in for that and there were no injuries.

I wear my seatbelt all the time on planes, just as I do in cars and on coaches. I'm just used to doing it.

And the last time anyone died in a turbulence incident in the whole world was in 2009.

It is very, very rare.

I flew out of Bangkok just a couple of hours before the Singapore flight landed and skies reasonably calm, just a few patches but nothing significant. I am flying again later this week and will be firmly strapped in my seatbelt! It certainly makes you think, although I also feel these things are incredibly rare which helps reduce any anxieties.

Weirdly op I used to be a little bit nervous about flying, but since flying with my daughter I'm way better. I think I just had to get on with it so as not to pass on any fear and I realised the other week I'm just better with it now.

As others have said, keep your seatbelts on at all times, turbulence for a plane is like us hitting a speed bump or pothole in a car, won't do damage, just jostles you around.

It is a tragedy obviously, but such a rare rare occurance. (Thankfully). Although I fully appreciate to the family that won't be any consolation.

@Freespirit44 YANBU as it is shocking what happened. What you have to do is tell yourself it is so rare that it made the news. If it was a regular occurrence it wouldn’t.

I always keep my seatbelt fastened, unless going to the toilet, for this exact reason.

I’m also quite an anxious flyer OP. I was in an unexpected air drop some time ago and was absolutely fine because my seat belt was on - nobody was badly hurt as in this awful situation but it was a shock and quite a few people bumped their heads etc.

Incidentally you probably do have less to worry about re turbulence on a short haul flight as we don’t typically get such extreme weather patterns in Europe. But if there is turbulence look at the cabin crew - that’s what I always do and they always look totally relaxed and not fussed which shows me that it’s absolutely normal and nothing to stress over. (Sometimes I also close my eyes and pretend I’m the passenger in a bumpy car which really helps.)