Singapore Airlines Revises Seatbelt Policies Following Fatal Turbulence Incident

The airline will no longer serve hot drinks and meals when the seatbelt sign is on, adopting a "more cautious approach" to turbulence, according to a statement provided to CNBC.

“SIA will continue to review our processes, as the safety of our passengers and crew is of utmost importance,” the airline stated. Additionally, crew members will ensure all loose items and equipment are secured and advise passengers to remain seated with seatbelts fastened.

The incident involved Singapore Airlines flight SQ321 from London to Singapore, a Boeing 777-300ER carrying 211 passengers and 18 crew members. The flight encountered severe turbulence over Myanmar, causing significant cabin disruptions and necessitating a diversion to Bangkok's Suvarnabhumi International Airport.

Flight data indicates that Singapore Airlines has since modified the route of SQ321, bypassing the turbulence-prone area over Myanmar and instead flying over the Bay of Bengal and the Andaman Sea. The airline has not yet responded to requests for comments on these route changes.

The turbulence incident resulted in the death of a 73-year-old British passenger, suspected to have suffered a heart attack, and left 104 others injured. As of Thursday, 20 passengers remain in intensive care with head and spinal injuries, while a total of 44 passengers and two crew members are still hospitalized.

Turbulence-related incidents are the most frequent type of accidents for commercial airlines, according to the U.S. National Transportation Safety Board. From 2009 to 2022, there were 163 recorded cases of severe injuries due to turbulence, primarily affecting crew members.

The Aviation Safety Network notes that Singapore Airlines has had seven incidents in its history, with the last fatal accident occurring in October 2000, when 83 people died after a plane collided with construction equipment at Taipei's main airport.