SINGAPORE Airlines has made offers of compensation to passengers on board a flight last month that encountered severe turbulence, which led to dozens of injuries and one death, Reuters reports.
THE air carrier offered passengers with minor injuries US$10,000 (RM47,234), while others with serious injuries can discuss offers to meet their specific needs.
According to the Malaysian Foreign Affairs Ministry, nine Malaysians were injured, one of them seriously, when Singapore Airlines Flight SQ321 underwent severe turbulence on May 21 en route to Singapore from London.
The Malaysian embassy in Thailand said 16 Malaysians were on the plane when it landed at the Suvarnabhumi International Airport in Bangkok.
Among the nine injured, one was in critical but stable condition.
A 73-year-old British passenger died and 30 others were injured.
“Passengers medically assessed as having sustained serious injuries, requiring long-term medical care, and requesting financial assistance are offered an advance payment of RM25,000 to address their immediate needs,” that will form part of any final settlement, the carrier said.
A report from Singapore’s Transport Ministry said a rapid change in gravitational force and a 54m altitude drop likely caused passengers and crew to become airborne.
It said the plane was likely flying over an area of “developing convective activity”, a term referring to developing bad weather.
The plane had 41 passengers from Singapore, United Kingdom (47), Australia (56), Canada (2), Germany (1), India (3), Indonesia (2), Iceland (1), Ireland (4), Israel (1), Myanmar (2), New Zealand (23), the Philippines (5), South Korea (1), Spain (2), and the US (4). – June 11, 2024.
