“Thrown to the roof and then to the floor

Sudden plunge due to severe turbulence sent people and things flying in cabin

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A passenger on board Singapore Airlines (SIA) Flight SQ321 on May 21 had just taken off his seatbelt to use the restroom when the plane plunged without warning.

The 30-year-old was slammed into the ceiling of the cabin, before falling back near his seat.

"I hit my neck and my back," the passenger told The Straits Times in a phone call, recounting the moment when the plane was hit by severe turbulence on its way to Singapore from London.

The incident, which occurred about 10 hours into the flight, took place during a routine breakfast service, throwing things in the cabin, even people, everywhere.

The passenger, who requested anonymity, said his fiancee was in the restroom and saw the seatbelt sign flash for a "split second" before the Boeing 777-300ER aircraft was hit by a severe bout of turbulence.

The couple suffered head and back injuries.

He commended crew members for tending to passengers, even though most of them were bleeding or limping.

One stewardess was "holding her neck with blood oozing out, but she was still going around and helping people get medication", he said.

"They need some medals because they were the heroes. 100 per cent," he added.