Following the recent death of an elderly passenger aboard a Singapore Airlines flight when the aircraft encountered extreme turbulence, several airlines will begin urging their passengers to wear seatbelts throughout the flight, rather than just during takeoffs, landings, and episodes of turbulence.
The incident occurred aboard Singapore Airlines flight SQ321, outbound from London’s Heathrow airport on the 21st of May. Ten hours into the flight, near the Gulf of Martabar, the Boeing 777-300ER aircraft plummeted 6,000 feet in three minutes after it encountered extreme turbulence. Those passengers who were standing were thrown against the ceiling and then slammed back down into the floor as the aircraft lurched violently around them with astonishing force.
These companies are believed to be formulating strategies to encourage compliance with the new safety regime, even when the seatbelt sign is not lit, according to a report in the London Times.
Airlines around the world fear that they could be struck by the next in a series of aircraft malfunctions, misadventures, and quality-control related mishaps. Twenty-one airlines have reportedly decided to adopt the “turbulence aware” program advanced by the International Air Transport Association.
The United Kingdom’s Civil Aviation Authority, which is responsible for aviation safety regulation in Britain, already recommends that passenger keep their seat belt fashioned throughout the flight.
President of the Emirates airline, Sir Tim Clarke, revealed to the Times that his airline has had its own share of issues, and the recent Singapore incident has everyone in the industry spooked and looking at all of their safety protocols to figure out how to better protect passengers.
A spokesperson for Virgin Atlantic said that its policies are constantly under review, taking into account new developments in aviation as they occur.
For its part, Singapore Airlines has already changed one of its in-flight policies following the May 21 turbulence incident. It will no longer serve passengers hot drinks while the seat belt sign is lit.
