Latest news with #FlightSQ321
The Star
27-05-2025
- General
- The Star
SQ321 incident: Parts of aircraft's weather radar system sent to US for tests, findings pending
SINGAPORE: Components of the weather radar system on board Singapore Airlines Flight SQ321, which experienced severe turbulence in May 2024, have been sent to the United States for examination and testing. However, the results of the examination and tests are still pending, and the final accident report will be made public only when the inquiry has concluded, said Singapore transport investigators looking into the incident, which left one dead and 79 others injured. The Transport Safety Investigation Bureau (TSIB), a department within Singapore's Ministry of Transport, gave this update in an interim statement on Tuesday (May 27), six days after the first anniversary of the ill-fated flight on May 21, 2024. The TSIB said investigations into the turbulence event are under way and being conducted in accordance with international requirements. The bureau said it is also being assisted by investigators from the US' National Transportation Safety Board and Federal Aviation Administration, with support from aircraft manufacturer Boeing, as well as other parties. According to international guidelines for aircraft accident investigations, states are required to issue a preliminary report within 30 days of the accident and a final report within 12 months, if possible. If not, an interim statement detailing the progress of the investigation should be released annually on the anniversary of the accident. The TSIB had on May 29, 2024, released a set of preliminary findings on the turbulence incident, which happened about 10 hours after the Boeing 777-300ER plane carrying 211 passengers and 18 crew departed London for Singapore. The bureau found that the wide-body jet started to vibrate while cruising at 37,000ft over the Irrawaddy Basin in Myanmar. At the same time, the aircraft, which was on autopilot, rose rapidly to 37,362ft and started to pick up speed. This happened during meal service at 3.49.21pm Singapore time. At 3.49.32pm, the pilots turned on the 'fasten seat belt' sign as they tried to manage the plane's airspeed. Eight seconds later, the plane experienced rapid changes in gravitational forces as it fell 178ft, or 54m. This likely caused unbelted passengers and crew to be flung up into the air and back down, injuring them. A 73-year-old Briton, Geoffrey Kitchen, died of a suspected heart attack. Many others, including passengers from Malaysia and Australia, suffered serious injuries involving the head and spine. Crew members were injured too. A medical emergency was declared, and the plane was diverted to Bangkok's Suvarnabhumi Airport. In the immediate aftermath, several sources such as AccuWeather pointed to rapidly developing thunderstorms near SQ321's flight path as a likely cause of the extreme turbulence. The commercial weather forecaster noted then that such explosive thunderstorms often have strong currents of rising air, sometimes at more than 160kmh, which can cause a severe change in altitude in a short amount of time. Some have questioned if Flight SQ321 could have avoided the turbulence, noting that other planes in the area had flown around the thunderstorms at the time. Based on The Straits Times' checks, for example, Swiss International Air Lines Flight LX181 from Bangkok to Zurich was flying in the same vicinity as SQ321 on May 21, 2024. The national airline of Switzerland had told ST that its pilots made 'significant course deviations' that day, using onboard weather radar to navigate around severe weather conditions. Under Singapore law, the TSIB's final report on the SQ321 incident will not be admissible as evidence in court, except during a coroner's inquiry. But its findings will likely colour what is expected to be a lengthy legal battle between SIA and the affected passengers, some of whom suffered life-changing injuries and remain scarred from the experience. Even with the compensation offers it has made, the national carrier is set to face lawsuits that could span multiple countries. Based on precedents, these are likely to end in confidential settlements, which could possibly go into millions of dollars for the serious cases, legal experts have said. Claims against SIA must be settled or brought to court by the second anniversary of the SQ321 incident in 2026. - The Straits Times/ANN
Straits Times
27-05-2025
- Automotive
- Straits Times
SQ321 incident: Parts of aircraft's weather radar system sent to US for tests, findings pending
In an interim update, Singapore investigators revealed 79 passengers were injured in the incident. SQ321 incident: Parts of aircraft's weather radar system sent to US for tests, findings pending SINGAPORE - Components of the weather radar system on board Singapore Airlines Flight SQ321, which experienced sudden extreme turbulence in 2024, have been sent to the United States for examination and testing. However, the results of the examination and tests are still pending and the final accident report will be made public after the investigation has concluded, said Singapore transport investigators looking into the incident, which left one passenger dead and 79 injured. The Transport Safety Investigation Bureau (TSIB), a department within Singapore's Ministry of Transport, gave this update in an interim statement on May 27, six days after the first anniversary of the ill-fated flight on May 21, 2024. The TSIB said investigations into the turbulence event are under way and being conducted in accordance with international requirements. The bureau said it is also being assisted by investigators from the US' National Transportation Safety Board and Federal Aviation Administration, with support from aircraft manufacturer Boeing as well as other parties. According to international guidelines for aircraft accident investigations, states are required to issue a preliminary report within 30 days of the accident and a final report within 12 months, if possible. If not, an interim statement detailing the progress of the investigation should be released annually on the anniversary of the accident. The TSIB had on May 29, 2024, released a set of preliminary findings on the turbulence incident, which happened about 10 hours after the Boeing 777-300ER plane carrying 211 passengers and 18 crew departed London for Singapore. The bureau found that the wide-body jet started to vibrate while cruising at 37,000 feet over the Irrawaddy Basin in Myanmar. At the same time, the aircraft, which was on autopilot, rose rapidly to 37,362 feet and started to pick up speed. This happened during meal service at 3.49.21pm Singapore time. At 3.49.32pm, the pilots turned on the 'fasten seat belt' sign as they tried to manage the plane's airspeed. Eight seconds later, the plane experienced rapid changes in G-forces as it fell 178 feet, or about 54m, TSIB said. G-forces measure acceleration or deceleration by comparing it with the normal pull of gravity on earth. At positive 1.5G, for instance, a person would feel like they were 1.5 times their body weight. According to the TSIB, the plane went from positive 1.35G at 3.49.40pm to negative 1.5G in less than a second, before returning to positive 1.5G within four seconds. This likely caused unbelted passengers and crew to be flung up into the air and back down, injuring them. A 73-year-old Briton, Mr Geoffrey Kitchen, died of a suspected heart attack. Many others, including passengers from Malaysia and Australia, suffered serious injuries involving the head and spine. A medical emergency was declared, and the plane was diverted to Bangkok's Suvarnabhumi Airport. In the immediate aftermath, several sources like AccuWeather pointed to rapidly developing thunderstorms near SQ321's flight path as a likely cause of the extreme turbulence. The commercial weather forecaster noted then that such explosive thunderstorms often have strong currents of rising air, sometimes at more than 160kmh, which can cause a severe change in altitude in a short amount of time. Some have questioned if Flight SQ321 could have avoided the turbulence, noting that other planes in the area had flown around the thunderstorms at the time. Based on ST's checks, for example, Swiss International Air Lines Flight LX181 from Bangkok to Zurich was flying in the same vicinity as SQ321 on May 21, 2024. The national airline of Switzerland had told The Straits Times that its pilots made 'significant course deviations' that day, using onboard weather radar to navigate around severe weather conditions. Under Singapore law, TSIB's final investigation report on the SQ321 incident will not be admissible as evidence in court, except during a coroner's inquiry. But its findings will likely colour what is expected to be a lengthy legal battle between SIA and the affected passengers, some of whom suffered life-changing injuries and remain scarred from the experience. Even with the compensation offers it has made, the national carrier is set to face lawsuits that could span multiple countries. Based on precedents, these are likely to end in confidential settlements, which could possibly go into millions of dollars for the serious cases, legal experts have said. Claims against SIA must be settled or brought to court by the second anniversary of the SQ321 incident in 2026. Kok Yufeng is a transport correspondent at The Straits Times. Join ST's WhatsApp Channel and get the latest news and must-reads.
NZ Herald
22-05-2025
- NZ Herald
Kiwis part of lawsuit fighting for compensation from Singapore Airlines Flight 321
Carter Capner director Peter Carter said the firm was acting for 11 passengers but is also investigating claims for others who experienced significant psychological trauma. 'Many of our clients exhibit PTSD symptoms as a result of this terrifying mid-air experience,' he said. 'They thought they were going to die.' Carter said compensation was not available for PTSD unless it could be demonstrated to have caused a physical change in the passenger. 'To this end, our medical experts are utilising leading-edge brain scanning techniques to image brain abnormalities,' the lawyer said. 'We are optimistic to also be able to recover substantial damages for PTSD injuries for affected passengers, including those who have no other physical injuries.' The firm expected to present compensation demands to Singapore Airlines' insurers by September. Carter believes many passengers will receive awards for damages 'well in excess of $1 million'. If Singapore Airlines proves it had no part to play in the accident, its liability for proven losses for each passenger will be limited to US$180,000, the law firm claims. Carter said the firm believed, after an in-depth investigation, that pilots likely encountered a thunderstorm at too close a proximity as the plane passed over an area notorious for thunderstorm activity in the Intertropical Convergence Zone. 'Other planes took evasive action and changed direction, yet Flight SQ321 headed directly through the suspect area,' he said. 'Interim report confirms that the G-forces applied to passengers' bodies – including a drop in vertical acceleration from +1.35G to -1.5G – was sufficient to cause serious injury even to passengers restrained by a seat belt." The final accident report from the Singaporean Transport Safety Investigation Bureau (TSIB) is expected to be released mid-year. A Singapore Airlines (SIA) spokesperson said the airline deeply apologised to all passengers and crew members for the traumatic experience on board flight SQ321 operating from London to Singapore on May 20. 'SIA continues to co-operate fully with the relevant authorities in the investigation into the SQ321 incident,' they said. 'We are also firmly committed to providing the necessary support and assistance to the affected passengers.' The airline spokesperson said SIA sent compensation offers directly to the passengers on June 10, 2024. 'While some passengers have accepted these offers, we continue to engage with the others directly or via their appointed representatives. 'We regret that we are unable to provide more details due to confidentiality reasons. The safety of our customers and staff remains SIA's top priority.'
The Star
21-05-2025
- General
- The Star
SQ321 incident: One year on, passengers recall how extreme turbulence upended their lives
SINGAPORE: It has been six months since giving birth to her second child in November 2024, but Saw Rong still cannot carry the baby girl. She fractured her back a year ago when extreme air turbulence hit a Singapore Airlines (SIA) flight she and her husband were taking from London to Singapore. Saw, who is in her 30s, was two months pregnant then. On May 21, 2024, she and other passengers were flung up into the air on Flight SQ321 when sudden, extreme turbulence caused the Boeing 777-300ER to drop 178 feet, or about 54m, in 4.6 seconds. It wreaked havoc in the cabin, leaving a British passenger dead from a suspected heart attack and dozens injured, some seriously. One of the pilots declared a medical emergency and diverted the plane, carrying 211 passengers and 18 crew members, to Bangkok's Suvarnabhumi Airport. The impact fractured Saw's back, and she underwent spinal surgery in Bangkok, where she was hospitalised for about a month. She has not been able to carry anything heavy since, her sister-in-law Eva Khoo told The Straits Times on May 19. One year on from the ill-fated flight, Saw and her husband, Ian Khoo, continue to receive treatment for their injuries in Malaysia, where they live. They are 'scared and traumatised' by the experience, and have not set foot on a plane since flying home from Bangkok in 2024, said Eva, who has been speaking for the family on this matter. Ian was thrown up from his seat when turbulence struck, and his head hit the overhead luggage compartment before he crashed down onto the floor of the aisle. He suffered head injuries, and his vision also appeared to have been affected, as he confused certain hues and perceived dark shades as lighter ones, Eva told ST from a Bangkok hospital in 2024. Even now, he still has numbness in his hands, his sister said. She thinks it will take a long time for the couple to recover, mentally and physically. 'The incident had a very big impact on them,' Khoo said. 'They thought they were going to die.' On whether Saw and Ian have accepted compensation offers from SIA, Eva said they are in negotiations with the airline 'until both parties can come to an agreement'. In response to questions from ST, SIA said it had sent compensation offers to passengers in June 2024. 'While some passengers have accepted these offers, we continue to engage with the others directly or via their appointed representatives,' the airline said, adding that it was unable to provide more details for confidentiality reasons. The airline has offered each passenger with minor injuries US$10,000 (S$13,000) in compensation. SIA also offered an advance payment of US$25,000 to passengers with more serious injuries to meet their immediate needs ahead of discussions over the final compensation amount. Such advance payments are not considered an admission of liability. In preliminary findings released eight days after the incident, Singapore's Transport Safety Investigation Bureau (TSIB) said passengers had eight seconds to react after pilots turned on the 'fasten seat belt' sign before the aircraft encountered turbulence. At 3.49.21pm (Singapore time) on May 21, 2024, while cruising at 37,000 feet, the wide-body jet started to vibrate and fluctuate between plus 0.44G and plus 1.57G for 19 seconds, likely after entering an area of convective activity, or upward and downward currents of air often associated with thunderstorms. G-forces measure rapid acceleration or deceleration by comparing it with the normal pull of gravity on earth, which is considered plus 1G. Hence, at plus 1.57G, a person would feel like they were 1.57 times their body weight. At the same time the G-force fluctuated, SQ321 while on autopilot started to rise rapidly. In response, the autopilot pitched the aircraft downwards to return to 37,000 feet. At 3.49.32pm, one of the pilots turned on the seat-belt sign. Eight seconds later, the aircraft experienced a sudden drop in altitude, causing unbelted passengers and crew to be flung up. According to the preliminary investigation, the plane's vertical acceleration went back to positive 1.5G within four seconds, causing those who were flung up from their seats to fall back down. The plane dropped 178 feet, from 37,362 feet to 37,184 feet. As a result, some passengers and crew members were injured. For six past turbulence-related accidents, the TSIB released its final reports anywhere between 8½ months and nearly 2½ years after they happened. Most were made public within 19 months. ST has contacted the Ministry of Transport, which oversees the TSIB, for an update on the investigation. An Australian woman, Kerry Jordan, 53, who was aboard the flight with her husband, suffered a spinal injury and was left a quadriplegic. Jordan, a former high school dance and drama teacher, told ST she was discharged from hospital in April 2025 and was 'only now beginning to confront my new reality'. 'My injury is so severe that I require assistance 24/7 just to be able to get out of bed and face the day confined to my wheelchair,' she said. Jordan, who is permanently incapacitated, said she is now living in temporary accommodation because her home – a free-standing, two-storey house in Adelaide – could not be adapted to her current situation and would need to be completely rebuilt, at a cost of about A$2 million (S$1.66 million). She said SIA had provided compensation of US$170,000, per the Montreal Convention, but this was far from adequate for her needs. 'My life has changed forever,' she said. Singapore is a signatory to the 1999 Montreal Convention, and it has been incorporated into the law here. Under the Convention, claims of up to about US$170,000 can be made for death or bodily injuries arising from international aviation accidents, regardless of whether the airline was at fault. For claims exceeding this sum, the airline may avoid liability if it can prove that the damage was not due to negligence on its part, or was due solely to a third party. One issue that may arise is whether passengers heeded any warnings to belt up. Amelia Lim, a 44-year-old Malaysian public relations executive, said she was trying to fasten her seat belt when the turbulence happened. 'I felt my seat drop and I flew off my seat,' she told ST. 'The next thing I knew, I was on the floor'. She had been on holiday in Britain. She suffered a concussion and whiplash, and had lacerations, chest trauma and 'bruises all over the place', she said. One year on, she suffers from frequent headaches and still requires physiotherapy. While she has continued to travel after the incident – mostly for work – she feels anxious and has 'panic attacks the moment the plane jolts', she said. Before she flies, there is also 'a lot more preparation, checking the weather', she added. She accepted US$10,000 in compensation from SIA. Some have also questioned if Flight SQ321 could have avoided the turbulence. Chicago-based aviation lawyer Floyd Wisner, whose firm is in discussions with SIA on behalf of his clients, including Jordan, noted that other carriers in the area at around the same time had flown around the developing thunderstorm. Based on ST's checks, for example, Swiss International Air Lines Flight LX181 from Bangkok to Zurich was flying in the same vicinity as SQ321 on May 21, 2024. The airline told ST in September 2024 that its pilots made 'significant course deviations' on that day, using the onboard weather radar to navigate around severe weather conditions, resulting in several course adjustments. Peter Carter, a Brisbane-based aviation lawyer, said he is acting for 11 passengers from Australia, Singapore, Britain and New Zealand. His firm is also 'investigating claims for other passengers who have no physical injuries but have major post-traumatic stress disorder'. Damages for mental injury are not normally claimable unless they are linked to physical injury, Carter noted. London-based law firm Stewarts is also representing passengers on SQ321 spanning multiple jurisdictions. With many passengers sustaining life-changing spinal cord and brain injuries, according to Stewarts, claims are expected to easily exceed the Montreal Convention first-tier limit, the firm said in a statement on May 17. 'This is where the real combat between the parties will lie,' it added. James Healy-Pratt, a London-based lawyer, said he is representing 10 passengers with injuries ranging from paralysis and spinal fractures to significant soft tissue and psychiatric injuries. Under the Montreal Convention, passengers can choose to bring claims in relevant jurisdictions, such as their country of residence, the destination country of the flight, or the country where the airline is based. There is also a two-year limitation period for claims to be brought against SIA. The airline on May 20 said: 'SIA deeply apologises to all passengers and crew members for the traumatic experience on board Flight SQ321.' It said it continues to cooperate fully with the relevant authorities in the investigation into the incident. 'We are also firmly committed to providing the necessary support and assistance to the affected passengers.' - The Straits Times/ANN
AsiaOne
21-05-2025
- General
- AsiaOne
SQ321 incident: One year on, passengers recall how extreme turbulence upended their lives, Singapore News
SINGAPORE — It has been six months since giving birth to her second child in November 2024, but Saw Rong still cannot carry the baby girl. She fractured her back a year ago when extreme air turbulence hit a Singapore Airlines (SIA) flight she and her husband were taking from London to Singapore. Saw, who is in her 30s, was two months pregnant then. On May 21, 2024, she and other passengers were flung up into the air on Flight SQ321 when sudden, extreme turbulence caused the Boeing 777-300ER to drop 178 feet, or about 54m, in 4.6 seconds. It wreaked havoc in the cabin, leaving a British passenger dead from a suspected heart attack and dozens injured, some seriously. One of the pilots declared a medical emergency and diverted the plane, carrying 211 passengers and 18 crew members, to Bangkok's Suvarnabhumi Airport. The impact fractured Saw's back, and she underwent spinal surgery in Bangkok, where she was hospitalised for about a month. She has not been able to carry anything heavy since, her sister-in-law Eva Khoo told The Straits Times on May 19. One year on from the ill-fated flight, Saw and her husband, Mr Ian Khoo, continue to receive treatment for their injuries in Malaysia, where they live. They are "scared and traumatised" by the experience, and have not set foot on a plane since flying home from Bangkok in 2024, said Ms Khoo, who has been speaking for the family on this matter. Mr Khoo was thrown up from his seat when turbulence struck, and his head hit the overhead luggage compartment before he crashed down onto the floor of the aisle. He suffered head injuries, and his vision also appeared to have been affected, as he confused certain hues and perceived dark shades as lighter ones, Ms Khoo told ST from a Bangkok hospital in 2024. Even now, he still has numbness in his hands, his sister said. [[nid:685514]] She thinks it will take a long time for the couple to recover, mentally and physically. "The incident had a very big impact on them," Ms Khoo said. "They thought they were going to die." On whether Ms Saw and Mr Khoo have accepted compensation offers from SIA, Ms Khoo said they are in negotiations with the airline "until both parties can come to an agreement". Ms Saw Rong fractured her back one year ago on Flight SQ321, and still cannot carry her second child (left), who was born in November 2024. PHOTO: Eva Khoo In response to questions from ST, SIA said it had sent compensation offers to passengers in June 2024. "While some passengers have accepted these offers, we continue to engage with the others directly or via their appointed representatives," the airline said, adding that it was unable to provide more details for confidentiality reasons. The airline has offered each passenger with minor injuries US$10,000 (S$13,000) in compensation. SIA also offered an advance payment of US$25,000 to passengers with more serious injuries to meet their immediate needs ahead of discussions over the final compensation amount. Such advance payments are not considered an admission of liability. Passengers had seconds to fasten seat belts In preliminary findings released eight days after the incident, Singapore's Transport Safety Investigation Bureau (TSIB) said passengers had eight seconds to react after pilots turned on the "fasten seat belt" sign before the aircraft encountered turbulence. At 3.49.21pm (Singapore time) on May 21, 2024, while cruising at 37,000 feet, the wide-body jet started to vibrate and fluctuate between plus 0.44G and plus 1.57G for 19 seconds, likely after entering an area of convective activity, or upward and downward currents of air often associated with thunderstorms. G-forces measure rapid acceleration or deceleration by comparing it with the normal pull of gravity on earth, which is considered plus 1G. Hence, at plus 1.57G, a person would feel like they were 1.57 times their body weight. At the same time the G-force fluctuated, SQ321 while on autopilot started to rise rapidly. In response, the autopilot pitched the aircraft downwards to return to 37,000 feet. At 3.49.32pm, one of the pilots turned on the seat-belt sign. Eight seconds later, the aircraft experienced a sudden drop in altitude, causing unbelted passengers and crew to be flung up. According to the preliminary investigation, the plane's vertical acceleration went back to positive 1.5G within four seconds, causing those who were flung up from their seats to fall back down. The plane dropped 178 feet, from 37,362 feet to 37,184 feet. As a result, some passengers and crew members were injured. For six past turbulence-related accidents, the TSIB released its final reports anywhere between 8½ months and nearly 2½ years after they happened. Most were made public within 19 months. ST has contacted the Ministry of Transport, which oversees the TSIB, for an update on the investigation. 'My life has changed forever' An Australian woman, Kerry Jordan, 53, who was aboard the flight with her husband, suffered a spinal injury and was left a quadriplegic. Jordan, a former high school dance and drama teacher, told ST she was discharged from hospital in April 2025 and was "only now beginning to confront my new reality". "My injury is so severe that I require assistance 24/7 just to be able to get out of bed and face the day confined to my wheelchair," she said. Jordan, who is permanently incapacitated, said she is now living in temporary accommodation because her home — a free-standing, two-storey house in Adelaide — could not be adapted to her current situation and would need to be completely rebuilt, at a cost of about A$2 million (S$1.66 million). She said SIA had provided compensation of US$170,000, per the Montreal Convention, but this was far from adequate for her needs. "My life has changed forever," she said. Singapore is a signatory to the 1999 Montreal Convention, and it has been incorporated into the law here. Under the Convention, claims of up to about US$170,000 can be made for death or bodily injuries arising from international aviation accidents, regardless of whether the airline was at fault. For claims exceeding this sum, the airline may avoid liability if it can prove that the damage was not due to negligence on its part, or was due solely to a third party. One issue that may arise is whether passengers heeded any warnings to belt up. Amelia Lim, a 44-year-old Malaysian public relations executive, said she was trying to fasten her seat belt when the turbulence happened. "I felt my seat drop and I flew off my seat," she told ST. "The next thing I knew, I was on the floor". She had been on holiday in Britain. She suffered a concussion and whiplash, and had lacerations, chest trauma and "bruises all over the place", she said. One year on, she suffers from frequent headaches and still requires physiotherapy. While she has continued to travel after the incident — mostly for work — she feels anxious and has "panic attacks the moment the plane jolts", she said. Before she flies, there is also "a lot more preparation, checking the weather", she added. She accepted US$10,000 in compensation from SIA. Lawyers prepare for a fight Some have also questioned if Flight SQ321 could have avoided the turbulence. Chicago-based aviation lawyer Floyd Wisner, whose firm is in discussions with SIA on behalf of his clients, including Jordan, noted that other carriers in the area at around the same time had flown around the developing thunderstorm. Based on ST's checks, for example, Swiss International Air Lines Flight LX181 from Bangkok to Zurich was flying in the same vicinity as SQ321 on May 21, 2024. The airline told ST in September 2024 that its pilots made "significant course deviations" on that day, using the onboard weather radar to navigate around severe weather conditions, resulting in several course adjustments. Peter Carter, a Brisbane-based aviation lawyer, said he is acting for 11 passengers from Australia, Singapore, Britain and New Zealand. His firm is also "investigating claims for other passengers who have no physical injuries but have major post-traumatic stress disorder". Damages for mental injury are not normally claimable unless they are linked to physical injury, Carter noted. London-based law firm Stewarts is also representing passengers on SQ321 spanning multiple jurisdictions. [[nid:685728]] With many passengers sustaining life-changing spinal cord and brain injuries, according to Stewarts, claims are expected to easily exceed the Montreal Convention first-tier limit, the firm said in a statement on May 17. "This is where the real combat between the parties will lie," it added. James Healy-Pratt, a London-based lawyer, said he is representing 10 passengers with injuries ranging from paralysis and spinal fractures to significant soft tissue and psychiatric injuries. Under the Montreal Convention, passengers can choose to bring claims in relevant jurisdictions, such as their country of residence, the destination country of the flight, or the country where the airline is based. There is also a two-year limitation period for claims to be brought against SIA. The airline on May 20 said: "SIA deeply apologises to all passengers and crew members for the traumatic experience on board Flight SQ321." It said it continues to co-operate fully with the relevant authorities in the investigation into the incident. "We are also firmly committed to providing the necessary support and assistance to the affected passengers." [[nid:685727]] This article was first published in The Straits Times. Permission required for reproduction.
