Strict new airline safety rules after deadly turbulence kills UK passenger

Passengers may soon be required to keep their seatbelts on for the entire flight under new airline regulations. This change in safety measures follows an incident on a Singapore Airlines flight in which a passenger died due to unexpected turbulence.

Last month Geoffrey Kitchen, 73, was killed when the Singapore Airlines Boeing 777 fell nearly 50m in seconds and suffered what is believed to be a fatal heart attack. More than 100 people were initially hospitalized following the incident, reports Birmingham Live.

Now, new rules could soon ban passengers from unbuckling their seat belts at any time during flights to prevent similar incidents. According to The Times, safety experts at several airlines are currently exploring how this change could be implemented.

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An anonymous aviation source revealed the incident left airline executives “terrified they could be next”. They said: “The message will be massively reinforced: it will be ‘Always stay connected’. End it.”

Emirates chairman Sir Tim Clark told The Times that “the whole industry is now in full swing” to ensure passengers stay buckled in for the duration of their flight. He said, “We’re looking at all the protocols.”

If introduced, the rule would mark one of the most significant changes to safety regulations in two decades, according to travel expert Paul Charles. Since Mr Kitchen’s death amid the turmoil, a number of other rules have been put in place. Last month, Singapore Airlines announced that it would no longer serve hot drinks or meals when the seat belt indicator is on.

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