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Singapore Airlines aircraft made 'dramatic drop', people flung upwards, says guest

There was little warning of the turmoil that was to come as travelers on Singapore Airlines flight SQ321 unwinded with just 3 hours to Singapore after a long haul flight from London.

But as the Boeing 777-300R soared above Myanmar it suddenly hit extreme turbulence, extremely tossing guests, flight attendants and inflight meals and kettles around the cabin.

All of a sudden the airplane starts tilting up and there was shaking, Malaysian student Dzafran Azmir said.

The 28-year-old braced himself and inspected he had his seatbelt on. He did. Many of the other guests did not, he stated.

There was a really significant drop so everyone seated and not using seat belt was released instantly into the ceiling, some individuals hit their heads on the baggage cabins overhead and dented it, they hit the locations where lights and masks are and broke directly through it, Azmir informed .

One passenger passed away of a thought cardiac arrest and a minimum of 30 were hurt after the flight encountered what the airline referred to as abrupt severe turbulence around 10 hours into the journey as it flew over the southern tip of Myanmar.

The flight experienced a quick modification in vertical rate, consistent with a sudden turbulence event at 0749 GMT, flight data company FlightRadar 24 said.

The entire thing occurred within the period of less than 10 seconds, Azmir stated. People dropped to the ground, my phone flew out of my hand and went a couple aisles to the side, individuals's shoes flung about.

Oxygen masks suspended from the aircraft's ceiling, sections of which had dropped or been dented and broken.

Debris, including fruit salad, kettles and trays of in-flight meals, was scattered about the cabin, eyewitness video footage programs.

Turbulence - or pockets of disrupted air - can have numerous causes. Singapore Airlines did not say what type was involved.

Weather forecast show severe thunderstorms in the area.

It was cloudy outdoors, entirely white, Azmir stated.

The pilot declared a medical emergency situation and diverted the aircraft to Bangkok, landing around an hour later, and was met by a. huge number of ambulances and emergency employees.

The crew and individuals inside lavatories were injured the most ... There were a great deal of spinal and head injuries, Azmir said.

Emergency teams lifted injured passengers over their heads. on stretchers down the narrow aisles, while other guests. remain seated.

As a traveler recorded themselves walking through the carnage. to disembark, a voice can be heard saying: There are still. people on the ground.

Medical camping tents were set up on the tarmac to examine the. hurt; some bound to stretchers, some in wheelchairs.

Guests and team not being dealt with in Thai medical facilities were. shuttled to Singapore early Wednesday morning, fulfilled on arrival by. Singapore Airlines CEO Goh Choon Phong.

No, we were very lucky, said one passenger on arrival in. Singapore when asked if they were harmed.

(source: Reuters)