Passenger tells of ‘awful screaming’ on flight hit by severe turbulence

A passenger on the Singapore Airlines flight which was hit by severe turbulence has told of “awful screaming” on the plane.

Another said everyone not wearing a seatbelt was “launched immediately into the ceiling” when the turbulence occurred.

A British passenger died and many other people were injured when the flight from Heathrow encountered severe turbulence.

Andrew Davies told BBC Radio 5 Live that the plane “suddenly dropped” with “very little warning”.

Mr Davies said: “The thing I remember the most is seeing objects and things flying through the air.

“I was covered in coffee. It was incredibly severe turbulence.

“During the few seconds of the plane dropping there was an awful screaming and what sounded like a thud.”

He added that when the seat belt sign came on, he followed the instruction, and “at that very moment, the plane suddenly dropped”.

Mr Davies said he helped a woman who was “screaming in agony” after suffering a “gash on her head”, adding that there were “so many injured people” including some with head lacerations and bleeding ears.

In a post on social media, Mr Davies added: “Lots of people injured – including the air stewards who were stoic and did everything they could.

“People’s belongings scattered, coffee and water splattered the ceiling. Surreal.

“So many injured people, head lacerations, bleeding ears.

“A lady was screaming in pain with a bad back. I couldn’t help her – just got her water.”

Mr Davies said there was “very little warning”, adding “the seatbelt sign came on, I put on my seatbelt straight away then the plane just dropped”.

He added: “Lesson is – wear a seatbelt at all times. Anyone who is injured was not wearing a seatbelt. People who kept them on (including me) are not (as far as I could tell).”

Mr Davies said the emergency services in Bangkok were “quick to respond” to the incident after the flight was diverted to the city’s Suvarnabhumi Airport.

Student Dzafran Azmir, 28, who was also on the flight, told Reuters: “Suddenly the aircraft starts tilting up and there was shaking so I started bracing for what was happening, and very suddenly there was a very dramatic drop, so everyone seated and not wearing a seatbelt was launched immediately into the ceiling.

“Some people hit their heads on the baggage cabin overhead and dented it, they hit the places where lights and masks are and broke straight through it.”