Singapore Airlines (SIA) announced on Tuesday that it has offered $10,000 in compensation to passengers who suffered minor injuries during a flight that encountered extreme turbulence last month. The airline will also negotiate higher payouts with those more seriously injured.
The incident occurred on flight SQ321 from London to Singapore, resulting in the death of a 73-year-old British man and serious injuries to several other passengers and crew, including skull, brain, and spine injuries. The Boeing 777-300ER, carrying 211 passengers and 18 crew, was diverted to Bangkok, where the injured were taken to hospitals.
In a statement, SIA confirmed it had sent emails offering $10,000 in compensation to those with minor injuries. For passengers with serious injuries, the airline has invited them to discuss tailored compensation offers once they are ready. Passengers requiring long-term medical care will receive an advance payment of $25,000 to cover immediate needs, which will be part of the final compensation.
SIA also announced it will refund the airfares of all passengers on the flight, including those uninjured, and provide delay compensation in line with European Union and United Kingdom regulations. As of Tuesday afternoon, 11 passengers were still receiving treatment in Bangkok hospitals, according to an SIA spokesperson.
Under the Montreal Convention, airlines are liable for damages related to passenger injury or death on board an airplane. Compensation amounts will be determined based on the severity of injuries and medical reports from respective institutions.
SIA had previously provided Sg$1,000 ($740) to each passenger departing Bangkok to cover immediate expenses and has covered the medical expenses of injured passengers. The airline also arranged for family members to travel to Bangkok upon request.
The turbulence, which caused a sudden 54-meter (177-foot) altitude drop, violently threw unbelted passengers inside the cabin. The incident, attributed to a “rapid change” in gravitational force while passing over southern Myanmar, is under investigation by a team including experts from the TSIB, the US National Transportation Safety Board, the US Federal Aviation Administration, and Boeing.
SIA reiterated its commitment to supporting the affected passengers of flight SQ321.
