Singapore Airlines Boeing 777 Makes Emergency Landing in Thailand After Encountering Severe Turbulence.
1 min read 2024-05-22, 09:20 PM IST
SummaryA Singapore Airlines Boeing 777 encountered severe turbulence, leading to an emergency landing in Thailand on Tuesday. The turbulence resulted in the death of a passenger, Geoffrey Kitchen, and injuries to nearly 60 others. The flight likely flew through the Intertropical Convergence Zone (ICZ), an area near the equator known for its high humidity and frequent thunderstorms due to converging trade winds. Marco Chan, a former pilot and aviation lecturer, explained that such storm clusters are often unavoidable and prominently displayed on navigation systems, making it difficult for pilots to completely circumvent them. Singapore Airlines is cooperating fully with authorities in the investigation and ensured that all passengers received medical treatment upon landing. |
A Singapore Airlines Boeing 777 encountered severe turbulence, necessitating an emergency landing in Thailand on Tuesday. The turbulence resulted in the death of a passenger and injuries to nearly 60 others. The incident highlights the dangers associated with flying through regions known for unpredictable and severe weather conditions.
Potential Cause: Intertropical Convergence Zone (ICZ)
Marco Chan, a former commercial pilot and current aviation lecturer at Buckinghamshire New University, suggested that the Singapore Airlines flight might have flown through the Intertropical Convergence Zone (ICZ). This area, defined by NASA Earth Observatory, is a belt circling the Earth near the equator where trade winds from the Northern and Southern Hemispheres converge.
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The intense solar heat and warm equatorial waters in this region create high humidity levels. When these moist, buoyant air masses rise, they expand, cool, and release moisture, leading to almost continuous thunderstorms.
Chan explained that in such turbulent scenarios, pilots often have limited options. “With turbulence of such magnitude, it is likely the Singapore Airlines flight was navigating through difficult thunderstorms,” he told the Wall Street Journal (WSJ).(also read: Air India Flight Emergency Landing Incident).
Navigating Through Thunderstorms
Thunderstorms in the ICZ are prominently displayed on pilots’ navigation displays. However, Chan noted that it might not always be possible to avoid these storm clusters entirely, as they can span over 50 nautical miles. The pilots of the Singapore Airlines flight would have had to navigate through these challenging conditions, leading to the severe turbulence experienced on board.
Understanding Turbulence
Turbulence occurs when different wind patterns collide, causing disturbances due to variations in air temperature, pressure, or velocity. One particularly hazardous type is clear-air turbulence, which can surprise pilots and occur without warning.
Incident Details
The turbulence struck the Singapore Airlines flight on May 21, resulting in significant injuries and one fatality. Geoffrey Kitchen, a 73-year-old British passenger, likely succumbed to a heart attack during the incident, according to Kittipong Kittikachorn, general manager of Suvarnabhumi Airport in Bangkok. The Boeing 777 made an emergency landing in Thailand, where all passengers received immediate medical attention.
Airline’s Response
Singapore Airlines has expressed its full cooperation with the relevant authorities investigating the incident. The airline ensured that all passengers were examined and treated upon arrival at the airport. In a statement released on Wednesday, Singapore Airlines emphasized its commitment to passenger safety and its ongoing support for those affected by the turbulence.
This incident underscores the unpredictable nature of severe weather phenomena and the challenges faced by pilots in navigating through such conditions, particularly in regions like the ICZ where thunderstorms are frequent and intense.
