A British passenger has revealed her terrifying ordeal aboard the fateful Singapore Airlines flight SQ321, describing how she warned cabin crew about dangerous conditions just moments before deadly turbulence struck.
Lisa, 31, from London, was travelling with her husband from Heathrow to Singapore when the Boeing 777-300ER encountered catastrophic clear-air turbulence at 37,000 feet over the Irrawaddy Basin.
'I Knew Something Was Wrong'
"I'd been watching the flight path and noticed we were heading toward storm clouds," Lisa recounted. "The seatbelt sign was on, but people were still moving around. I told a flight attendant I was really worried about the weather ahead."
Her warning came too late. Within minutes, the aircraft suddenly dropped hundreds of feet, sending unrestrained passengers and crew flying through the cabin.
Chaos in the Cabin
"It was absolute chaos," she described. "People were screaming, there was blood everywhere. The overhead compartments had burst open, and luggage was scattered throughout the plane."
The severe turbulence resulted in one confirmed fatality - a 73-year-old British man believed to have suffered a heart attack - and left dozens injured, with seven people in critical condition.
Emergency Landing in Bangkok
The aircraft made an emergency landing in Bangkok, where medical teams rushed to treat the wounded. Passengers described scenes of carnage, with ceiling panels torn away and oxygen masks dangling from above.
"I've never been so frightened in my life," Lisa said. "We thought we were going to die. The plane just dropped out of the sky without warning."
Aviation Safety Questions Raised
The incident has raised serious questions about turbulence detection and passenger safety protocols. Aviation experts note that clear-air turbulence is particularly dangerous as it doesn't appear on weather radar and can strike without visible warning.
Singapore Airlines has expressed their deepest condolences to the family of the deceased and stated they are cooperating fully with investigation authorities.
The incident serves as a stark reminder to all air travellers to keep seatbelts fastened whenever seated, even when the seatbelt sign is off.
