Singapore Airlines offers support after horror flight

Following the severe turbulence that left one person dead and dozens injured during a Singapore Airlines long-haul flight, the company has offered passengers compensation. «Singapore Airlines deeply apologises to all passengers for the traumatic experience», it said in a statement on Facebook. «We are committed to offering our full support and assistance during this time.»

The airline sent out compensation offers to passengers on Monday. Those who suffered minor injuries on the flight at the end of May were offered compensation totalling 10,000 US dollars (equivalent to just under 9,000 Swiss francs). Those with serious injuries received an advance payment of 25,000 dollars (around 22,000 Swiss francs) to cover immediate costs.

The final compensation amount will be customized to the individual circumstances of each affected passenger. Additionally, all passengers will receive a full refund of their airfare, among other benefits.

The Boeing 777-300ER aircraft was travelling from London to Singapore with 211 passengers and 18 crew members when it suddenly plummeted almost 2000 metres over the west coast of Myanmar. A 73-year-old British man died, presumably of a heart attack. His wife and dozens of other people were injured, some of them seriously. Most of them were not wearing their seatbelts at the time of the sudden turbulence.