One passenger died of a suspected heart attack and dozens were injured, including at least 12 Australians and one permanent resident, after flight SQ321, flying from London to Singapore, encountered what the airline described as sudden, extreme turbulence over Myanmar.Â
The ministry said the investigation was ongoing.
The London-Singapore flight on a Boeing 777-300ER plane carrying 211 passengers, including 56 Australians, and 18 crew diverted to Bangkok after the plane was buffeted by turbulence that tossed passengers and crew around the cabin, slamming some into the ceiling.
"The aircraft experienced a rapid change in G (gravitational force) ... This likely resulted in the occupants who were not belted up to become airborne," the ministry said in a statement, citing a report by the Transport Safety Investigation Bureau of Singapore.
"The vertical acceleration changed from negative 1.5G to positive 1.5G within four seconds.
This likely resulted in the occupants who were airborne to fall back down.
"The rapid changes in G over the 4.6 seconds duration resulted in an altitude drop of 178ft (54m), from 37,362 ft to 37,184 ft," it said.
"This sequence of events likely caused the injuries to the crew and passengers."
The report also said a pilot was heard calling out that the fasten seat belt sign had been switched on.
