Turbulence is increasingly haunting the world of aviation, the impact of climate change
Pilots employ various methods to deal with turbulence. Passengers are expected to continue wearing seat belts.
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The Singapore Airlines SQ321 flight from London to Singapore, which experienced severe turbulence and made an emergency landing at Suvarnabhumi International Airport in Bangkok, Thailand, was seen on the tarmac on May 22, 2024.
NEW YORK, WEDNESDAY — Turbulence or severe shaking that hit the Singapore Airlines SQ321 plane on the London-Singapore flight reveals various safety risks during travel by air. One person died and 30 others were injured in the incident.
A total of 143 passengers and crew arrived safely at Changi Airport in Singapore on Wednesday (22/5/2024). Meanwhile, 86 passengers and crew are still receiving medical treatment in Thailand. Flight SQ321 carried 211 passengers and 18 crew members on a Boeing 777-300ER aircraft when it experienced severe turbulence on Tuesday (21/5/2024) while flying over the Indian Ocean.
A plane plunged sharply from 35,000 feet (about 10,600 meters) to 6,000 feet (1,800 meters) in just three minutes. "I saw people across the seats being lifted up, hitting the ceiling, and then falling back with a very uncomfortable position," said Dzafran Azmir, one of the passengers who had arrived in Singapore.
Photos circulating show the damaged inside of the airplane in the upper cabin panel. Oxygen masks are hanging from the ceiling and passenger belongings are scattered.
Also read: Singapore Airlines makes emergency landing in Bangkok, 1 passenger dies
A number of passengers who were injured reported that their heads were impacted. The relevant authorities are investigating the cause of the death of one passenger, a 73-year-old man, whether it was due to a heart attack or other causes.
Passengers of Singapore Airlines flight SQ321 from London to Singapore, which experienced severe turbulence and had to make an emergency landing in Bangkok, Thailand, arrived at Changi Airport in Singapore and were welcomed by their families on May 22, 2024.
Turbulence that causes planes to sharply dive is a danger to passengers and crew. Although turbulence that triggers fatal accidents is relatively rare, this problem is becoming more frequent. Several weather and aviation experts are observing various cases of turbulence and the impacts of weather changes that affect flight safety.
Various airlines have implemented policies to reduce the risk of turbulence. Experts urge airplane passengers to always be vigilant and emphasize the importance of wearing seat belts as much as possible as the first line of defense against the risk of turbulence.
Also read: Aviation Turbulence Increases as Global Warming
Turbulence occurs due to unstable air movements. Generally, it is often interpreted as a stormy gust of wind. However, the most dangerous turbulence is actually in clear skies. At first glance, the sky appears bright without any threats, but suddenly there is a severe jolt.
This condition occurs at high altitudes in the form of strong air currents known as jet streams. Jet streams occur due to wind shifts caused by two currents. air that collides at different speeds. If the difference in speed is very extreme, the atmosphere cannot withstand the tension, resulting in a collision and creating a very fast air flow like a whirlpool.
“If you get wind shear near the jet stream, it can create excess air currents and cause wild swings in the sky,” says Thomas Guinn, head of the Aeronautics Department at Embry-Riddle University, Daytona Beach. , Florida, United States, Wednesday.
Singapore Airlines flight SQ321 from London to Singapore made an emergency landing at Suvarnabhumi International Airport in Bangkok, Thailand due to severe turbulence. The plane was seen on the tarmac on May 22, 2024.
The exact number of accidents caused by turbulence during flights worldwide is difficult to determine. However, several countries have published data on such cases. The worst case of turbulence was the Braniff Airlines disaster on August 6, 1966 in the State of Nebraska, USA. Turbulence caused the plane to crash, resulting in the deaths of 42 people.
More than a third of air accidents in the United States during 2009-2018 were caused by turbulence. The turbulence resulted in at least one or more serious injuries to passengers or flight crew. However, the US Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) noted that there was no serious damage to the plane.
If you are exposed to wind shear near the jet stream, it can create excessive air currents and cause wild movements in the sky.
The NTSB notes that between 2009 and 2022, 163 people were seriously injured due to turbulence in flight, requiring hospitalization for at least two days. Most of the victims were cabin crew because they are the ones who are most often in an uncomfortable position without a seatbelt, as they have to attend to passengers.
Currently, an investigation is underway to find out what happened on Singapore Airlines flight SQ321. "It is common for turbulence to result in injuries, such as broken bones. However, fatalities are usually rare. Especially if it concerns wide-body aircraft," said Larry Cornman, a researcher at the National Science Foundation's Center for Atmospheric Studies who has long studied turbulence and its impact.
The photo taken from a video footage on May 21, 2024 shows an airplane taking off while medical staff gather near an ambulance at Suvarnabhumi Airport in Bangkok, Thailand. A Singapore Airlines plane made an emergency landing at the airport due to severe turbulence.
According to Director of Flight and Technical Operations of the International Air Transport Association (IATA), Stuart Fox, the last recorded death due to clear-air turbulence occurred in 1997. Other incidents were recorded to have befallen passengers on small planes, including a private jet in 2023.
In recent years, standard safety procedures have improved and prevented serious injury cases. Fox explained that the steps taken include monitoring weather forecasts, pilots informing passengers when entering areas of bad weather, and preventing cabin service when the plane enters bad air.
Can the pilot dodge?
Pilots employ various methods to avoid turbulence, including using weather radar, relying on vision, and flying away from storm areas. However, clear air turbulence is a different issue.
Doug Moss, a former commercial pilot who has become an aviation safety consultant, explained that clear air turbulence can be a serious problem. "The sky looks clear so no one expects to encounter turbulence," he said.
Air traffic controllers will alert pilots if aircraft are seen approaching the location of clear air turbulence. Moss added that pilots pay attention to the flow of the jet stream along the flight path to prevent collisions with air currents. They then fly above, below, or avoid the area.
Also read: Trying to Survive the Double Flight Disaster
"Currently, airplanes have the strength to withstand various types of turbulence. The passenger cabin, including the overhead baggage storage, is also reinforced. Even if there is damage, it will not disrupt the aircraft structure," said Moss.
Some experts assess increased turbulence and disruption to flights. There are many explanations that can be given, but observers are looking at the possible impact of climate change on increasing cases of turbulence around the world.
Guinn from Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University explained that many experts think climate change can change the jet stream and air shifts that trigger turbulence in space. In a statement on Tuesday, Paul Williams, Professor of Atmospheric Science at the University of Reading, England, said there was strong evidence of a link between climate change and turbulence.
An ambulance is waiting to transport passengers of the Singapore Airlines SQ321 flight that experienced severe turbulence and made an emergency landing at Suvarnabhumi Airport in Bangkok, Thailand, on May 21, 2024.
Williams stated that his research team found that clear-air turbulence in the North Atlantic has increased by 55% since 1979. Based on studies in the latest project, the increase in clear-air turbulence could double or even triple if global warming continues.
Nevertheless, other factors are also taken into account. According to Cornman, the increase in air traffic is also expected to trigger the growth of turbulence, especially in busy air routes.
To stay safe
In short, the use of safety belts is the key to dealing with turbulence. Experts underscore the call for passengers to always wear their seat belts to deal with possible turbulence
“Airplanes are designed to deal with turbulence. However, still use a safety belt. "That's very useful in preventing injury," said Guinn.
Passengers' reluctance to wear seat belts is the main cause of injury in the event of turbulence. (AP/AFP/REUTERS)
