The National Weather Service’s Aviation Weather Center has issued several alerts for potentially dangerous thunderstorms which could create turbulence for aircraft around U.S. airspace; this is happening hours after a Singapore Airlines flight encountered severe turbulence near Thailand, killing one passenger and injuring more than 70 on-board.
The Singapore Airlines flight operated on a Boeing 777-300 between London and Singapore encountered severe turbulence near the coast of Thailand, forcing it to make an emergency landing Suvarnabhumi International Airport at Bangkok. A 73 year old British man died on-board while at least 70 others suffered from various injuries. Photographs and videos shot on the ill-fated flight show blood spatters on ceiling panels and the floor, with the cabins and galleys in disarray from the incident.
“Singapore Airlines offers its deepest condolences to the family of the deceased. We deeply apologize for the traumatic experience that our passengers and crew members suffered on this flight,” the airline said in a statement.
The airline said passengers on-board were from around the world: 56 from Australia, 2 from Canada, 1 from Germany, 3 from India, 2 from Indonesia, 1 from Iceland, 4 from Ireland, 1 from Israel, 16 from Malaysia, 2 from Myanmar, 23 from New Zealand, 5 from the Philippines, 41 from Singapore, 1 from South Korea, 2 from Spain, 47 from the United Kingdom, and 4 from the United States of America.
Singapore Airlines (SIA) flight SQ321, operating from London-Heathrow to Singapore, encountered sudden extreme turbulence over the Irrawaddy Basin at 37,000 feet about 10 hours after departure. The pilot declared a medical emergency and diverted the aircraft to Bangkok, and landed the plane so that passengers and crew could seek medical care.
While that extreme turbulence is happening overseas, the National Weather Service is warning of hazards around the United States. Portions of the northeast, southeast, and Midwest are covered under SIGMET alerts for conditions that could create turbulence. Strong thunderstorms are creating damaging hail, gusty winds, and wind sheer.
Wind shear is a difference in wind speed and/or direction over a very short distance in the atmosphere. Airline pilots generally regard significant wind shear to be a horizontal change in airspeed of 30 knots (15 m/s or 34 mph) for light aircraft and 45 knots (23 m/s or 51 mph) for traditional airliners flying at flight altitude.
Known as a SIGMET, short for Significant Meteorological Information, the severe weather advisory issued by the AWC contains weather-related information concerning the safety of all aircraft passing through a specific zone. Sometimes AIRMETs are issued too; an AIRMET consists of turbulence, visibility, and icing-related warnings that are less severe than those in a SIGMET.
