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Travel expert Simon Calder has called for a “proper investigation” into the incident on board Singapore Airlines Flight SQ321, as one passenger was killed as a result of severe turbulence.
The flight, which had left London and was 90 minutes from its destination, was forced to emergency land as the craft plummeted into extreme turbulence.
One passenger, 73-year-old British man Geoff Kitchen, died as a result of the tragic incident. Singapore Airlines also confirmed that 18 individuals were hospitalised and another 12 were “being treated”.
Speaking to GB News, travel expert Simon Calder said the severity of the turbulence is a “rare but worrying phenomenon”, and has sparked concerns for flight safety.
Simon Calder has called for a ‘proper investigation’ into the Singapore Airlines incident
Reuters / GB News
Calder told GB News: “Turbulence can happen either because you’re flying somewhere near some storm clouds, or because you are simply in an area which suddenly has some very violent updrafts or downdrafts. It is a very worrying phenomenon.
“It happens about twice a day on average, to the extent that a passenger will be injured.”
Calder expressed his concern for the “incredibly distressing” incident on board the Singapore Airlines flight and noted that the turbulence happened at a time during the flight where “a lot of movement” was taking place on board the craft.
He explained: “This particular event, you have a combination of extremely violent turbulence and a lot of movement. It was extremely distressing, and so many injuries as well as the loss of Mr Kitchen.
The flight was forced into emergency landing and one passenger died as a result of the incident
Reuters
“The fact that it was 90 minutes out of Singapore, as a result of which the crew were up and about dealing with breakfast, people were getting up and going to use the washrooms or whatever. So an awful lot of people there.”
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Discussing the fallout from the incident, which has resulted in the death of one passenger, Calder called for a “proper investigation into the sequence of events” to figure out how the tragedy unraveled in the craft.
Calder said: “Such tragic circumstances, and clearly it needs to be properly investigated to find out what the sequence of events were.
“I think it could also lead possibly to some rather different ways of flying.”
Expanding on his suggestion, Calder highlighted that “generally, pilots advise to keep your seat belt loosely when you’re seated”, but this incident could lead in a change to seatbelt rules all together.
Simon Calder says this case of severe turbulence was a ‘rare and worrying phenomenon’
GB News
Calder claimed: “I think we could get to a point where it is absolutely normal, as with a car, to be wearing your seatbelt at all times, unless you are getting up and stretching your legs or going to the washroom.”
Host Isabel Webster agreed with Calder’s suggestions, and concluded that the airline industry “needs to think twice” about flight safety.
She added: “Interesting also about the head injuries in this case. My instinct was do we need to be wearing helmets? Does there need to be more serious questions about safety on board planes?”
Calder then reassured: “This is happening at a time when aviation has never been safer. Last year, there were no fatal accidents involving passenger jets in normal scheduled service.
“Turbulence is never going to bring down a modern plane, but I think attention will now shift to what happens inside the aircraft, and also with the cabin crew.”
This is a rush transcript. Copy may not be in its final form.AMY GOODMAN: This is Democracy Now! I’m Amy Goodman, with Juan González. We turn now to New York, where The New School Gaza solidarity encampment has announced it’s reached a deal with the university’s Board of Trustees to hold a vote on divesting from Israel by June 14th. The agreement comes after months of campus protests by students […]
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