Singapore Airlines offers up to $25K compensation to passengers injured in turbulent flight

Singapore Airlines has offered compensation ranging from US$10,000 to $25,000 to passengers who were injured during the turbulent SQ321 flight.

On Tuesday, the airline annnounced on its Facebook that who suffered “minor injuries” from the incident were offered $10,000, while passengers “having sustained serious injuries, requiring long-term medical care” were offered $25,000 in advance payment.

The payment will cater to their immediate needs and constitute a portion of their final compensation.

“For those who sustained more serious injuries from the incident, we have invited them to discuss a compensation offer to meet each of their specific circumstances,” it added.

All passengers on board the turbulent flight, regardless of injury status, will also receive a full airfare refund, along with delay compensation in accordance with the relevant European Union or U.K. regulations.

Additionally, Singapore Airlines has given all passengers S$1,000 (US$740) each for their immediate expenses upon departure from Bangkok, Thailand, where flight SQ321 made an emergency landing.

It has also been covering injured passengers’ medical expenses and arranged for their family members and loved ones to travel to Bangkok if requested.

211 passengers and 18 crew members were on board flight SQ321 from London to Singapore on May 21, when the plane dropped 54 metres in altitude in less than five seconds while flying over Myanmar.

A 73-year-old British tourist, Geoffrey Kitchen, died of a suspected heart attack during the incident while several dozens of other passengers on the flight were later treated for paralysis, spinal and spinal cord injuries, as well as skull and brain trauma.