Singapore Airlines plane 'fell 54 metres in five seconds'

The Singapore Airlines flight hit by severe turbulence last week dropped 54 metres in altitude in less than five seconds, preliminary findings from an investigation show.

- Reuters

A 73-year-old British passenger died of a suspected heart attack and dozens of people were injured after flight SQ321 from London to Singapore encountered what the airline described as sudden, extreme turbulence while flying over Myanmar.

The flight carrying 211 passengers and 18 crew diverted to Bangkok for an emergency landing.

"The aircraft experienced a rapid change in G [acceleration] ... This likely resulted in the occupants who were not belted up to become airborne," Singapore's transport ministry said in a statement, referencing a report by the Transport Safety Investigation Bureau.