Airlines issue new seat belt rules after Briton dies in ‘extreme turbulence’

Airlines are issuing new seat belt guidance after a wave of turbulence wreaked havoc on flights globally last month. Carriers are tightening safety instructions following the death of a Briton after severe turbulence hit a Singapore Airlines flight.

Sir Tim Clark, chairman of Emirates airline, told The Times: “We have had our own fair share of problems. Not as bad as Singapore Airlines, but let’s be honest, it’s a real race and the whole industry is now growing. at play in terms of ensuring that passengers are strapped in. We are looking at all the protocols.”

Virgin Atlantic told the publication: “The health, safety and security of our customers and people is always our top priority. We keep our policies under constant review and take into account all industry events to continually strengthen our safety management approach.”

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The Singapore Airlines flight hit by severe turbulence last week dropped 54 meters in altitude in less than five seconds, preliminary findings of an investigation show. A 73-year-old British passenger died of a suspected heart attack and dozens were injured after flight SQ321 from London to Singapore encountered turbulence while over Myanmar.

“The aircraft experienced a rapid change in G (gravitational force) … This likely resulted in the unbelted occupants becoming airborne,” Singapore’s Ministry of Transport said in a statement in a Bureau report of Transportation Safety Investigations.

“The vertical acceleration changed from negative 1.5G to positive 1.5G in 4 seconds. This likely caused the airborne occupants to fall back,” it said, citing information extracted from flight data and cockpit voice recorders.

“Rapid changes in G lasting 4.6 seconds resulted in an altitude drop of 178 ft (54 m), from 37,362 ft to 37,184 ft. This sequence of events likely caused the injury to the crew and passengers.”