Telecoms Engineer Suffers Life-Changing Injuries in Singapore Airlines Turbulence Incident

Bradley Richards, 29, from Benfleet, Essex, sustained severe spinal injuries and head trauma during a turbulent Singapore Airlines flight. The incident led to one fatality and raised concerns about passenger safety and turbulence protocols.

Bradley Richards, 29, a telecoms engineer from Benfleet, Essex, sustained life-changing injuries on a Singapore Airlines flight that encountered severe turbulence. Flying from London to Singapore on May 21, the Boeing 777-300ER, carrying 211 passengers and 18 crew, was hit by turbulence over Myanmar, resulting in a rapid altitude drop of 178 feet in just four seconds.

Richards suffered six fractures in his spine and neck, a spinal epidural hematoma, and a head laceration requiring 20 stitches. The turbulence reportedly caused a rapid change in G-forces, leading to injuries for those not wearing seatbelts. Geoff Kitchen, 73, from Thornbury, near Bristol, died from a suspected heart attack during the incident.

The aircraft diverted to Bangkok for an emergency landing, where Richards was treated in a local hospital. He is now uncertain about returning to his engineering role due to the severity of his injuries. The preliminary investigation by the Transport Safety Investigation Bureau (TSIB) indicated that the turbulence likely caused the injuries by flinging passengers and crew around the cabin.