Singapore Airlines turbulence victims offered payouts

Singapore Airlines has offered to pay compensation to those who were injured on a London to Singapore flight that encountered severe turbulence.

The airline said it will pay $10,000 (£7,800) to those who sustained minor injuries, in a Facebook post.

Passengers who sustained more severe injuries are being provided with an initial payment of $25,000 by the airline to address their immediate needs, with further discussions underway to cater to their specific circumstances.

Tragically, a 73-year-old British passenger lost his life, and numerous others suffered injuries when flight SQ 321 encountered turbulence over Myanmar and had to be diverted to Thailand in May.

Singapore Airlines has yet to respond to inquiries from BBC News regarding the number of individuals eligible for these payments.

Following the incident, over a hundred individuals who were on board SQ 321 received treatment at a hospital in Bangkok.

Preliminary investigations indicate that the aircraft experienced rapid fluctuations in altitude, resulting in a sudden drop of approximately 178 feet (54 meters) over a span of 4.6 seconds.

Passengers recounted instances where crew members and individuals without seatbelts were propelled upwards, colliding with the cabin ceiling.

Reports from the Bangkok hospital indicate that injuries sustained include spinal cord, head, and muscle injuries.

At the time of the incident, the Boeing 777-300ER aircraft carried 211 passengers, among whom were many British, Australian, and Singaporean nationals, along with 18 crew members.

Singapore Airlines has pledged to provide a full refund of the fare to all passengers aboard the flight, regardless of whether they sustained injuries.

Furthermore, the airline has committed to providing compensation for delays to passengers in accordance with the regulations of the European Union or the United Kingdom.

In addition to these measures, Singapore Airlines announced that each passenger would receive S$1,000 ($739; £580) to cover immediate expenses, and it made arrangements for family members to travel to Bangkok upon request.

According to international regulations, airlines are obligated to offer compensation in cases where passengers suffer injuries or fatalities during a flight.

This incident has drawn attention to seatbelt practices, as passengers are typically allowed to unfasten their seatbelts during routine cruising conditions.