SQ321 LHR-SIN Encountered Severe Turbulence [At least 1 Fatality and 30 Injured]

[NoName]

Oops indeed, learner driver!

Happens to the best of us.

 

[oz_mark]

Final report

https://isomer-user-content.by.gov.sg/287/c14f0a71-9a91-4173-a630-2482d609d98d/B773ER%20(9V-SWM)%20Turbulence%20event%20over%20Myanmar%2021%20May%202024.pdf

 

[Quickstatus]

The vertical acceleration during the incident (page 6)

+1.35G to -1.5G17 (i.e. a change of 2.85G) within 0.6 seconds

Then
-1.5G to +1.5G (i.e. a change of 3G) within the next 4 seconds

The aircraft was thought to be caught in an convective updraft with vertical speeds of 8000-9000 feet/min despite a nose down attitude of -5deg (page 24)

Pilots did not see any clouds and there were no weather returns on the weather radar.

FDR events on page 25

The one fatality was reported by the coroner to be acute heart failure.

There was some discussion about whether the weather radar was fully operational.

 

[Mattg]

Final report

https://isomer-user-content.by.gov.sg/287/c14f0a71-9a91-4173-a630-2482d609d98d/B773ER%20(9V-SWM)%20Turbulence%20event%20over%20Myanmar%2021%20May%202024.pdf

It sounds to me like the weather radar was not picking up weather at all (perhaps due to some kind of fault?) in the configuration that it was in prior to descending to below 31,000 feet.

 

[MEL_Traveller]

It sounds to me like the weather radar was not picking up weather at all (perhaps due to some kind of fault?) in the configuration that it was in prior to descending to below 31,000 feet.

But then didn't it say there was no fault with the system when tested on the later repatriation flight to Singapore?

The whole report is very difficult reading. Makes me wonder if it’s trying to hide something?

 

[oz_mark]

But then didn't it say there was no fault with the system when tested on the later repatriation flight to Singapore?

The whole report is very difficult reading. Makes me wonder if it’s trying to hide something?

My read is that they were unable to rule out underpainting/no painting as a possibility.

 

[Quickstatus]

Significantly no specific passenger education other than periodic reminders to fasten seatbelts via the IFE and when SeatBeltSign comes on the Captain is supposed to also make an announcement rather than just cabin crew

The issue of inflight service and the extent it can be conducted relative to the degree of turbulence is never going to be answered properly
The safest is of course no IFS but that is not a viable solution.