Singapore flight turbulence tragedy

[Freespirit44]

Posting for traffic.

Since I have heard the news I am absolutely terrified.

I am a VERY anxious flyer. For this reason I haven't flown in over seven years.

The news of this tragedy has triggered me as i have a short haul flight next week from the UK.

Anyone else feel the same?

No I don't think that is an unreasonable response to this tragedy

Oddly, no. News suggests he died of a heart attack, not from injuries sustained. I make a point of wearing my seat belt all the time anyway. These events hit the news because they are so rare. I feel it is incredibly unlikely to happen again

It was absolutely awful OP but if you're worried about the same happening on your flight remember, firstly this is SO rare it's made the news and secondly EVEN if you're unlucky enough to have similar turbulence if you have your seatbelt on you won't go flying.
Please don't worry. Flying is super safe

Also, long haul flights fly at much higher altitude. Unlikely to happen at lower altitudes I think, although I’m hiding the thread so I don’t see all the doom mongers!!

It massively highlights the importance of keeping your belt on for the entire flight - I never take my belt off unless I’m stretching my legs.

No, it's extremely rare. However I started keeping the seatbelt on all through flights some time ago because there's no reason not to and it could keep you safe in an emergency.

It looks like it was a distressing flight, but the man died of a heart attack, not from injuries.

There was no seat belt warning but yeah if you can manage it OP keep your seat belt on for the whole flight. You won't be the only one

Short haul and long haul fly at the same altitude - usually between 30,000 and 39,000 feet.

And? Do you really think he wouldn't have had a heart attack if he wasn't in this incident?

Seat belts are there for a reason.

But look at Flight Radar and see how many flights there are every day where this doesn't happen.

Flightradar24: Live Flight Tracker - Real-Time Flight Tracker Map

It also shows how safe planes are, as it was undamaged and landed fine.

I flew recently to Singapore & back

I have visited Singapore a few times

This incident does not put me off flying

I wear my seat belt

OP, there are 4.5 BILLION passengers that fly yearly across the world.

This is the first time I've heard of someone dying from extreme turbulence.

I appreciate it can be scary, but actually the risk is miniscule. It's even smaller if you keep your seat belt on and are already in good health.

Depends where and flight length but in any case between 30 and 39 is a lot of difference - some short flights wouldn't have time to climb to 39 - some not even 30.

Actually the common types of turbulence are more common at lower altitudes, although CAT can occur anywhere and is hard to spot/predict.

Occurences like this are incredibly rare and aviation in general has got much better at dodging turbulence since I started flying.

Thank you for the reassurance everyone. I needed to hear that.
I had just about gathered the courage to fly this year and this happens. That poor man. I hope the injured passengers make a full recovery.

Iv got no choice but to go ahead with the flight. My children don't need my fears passed onto them. If they weren't on the flight with me I would have definitely cancelled!

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.)

@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.

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.

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.

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.

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’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

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.

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.