Victims of Singapore Airlines turbulence offered compensation

Singapore Airlines has offered to pay compensation to people injured on a London-Singapore flight that encountered severe turbulence.

The airline said it would pay $10,000 (£7,800) to those who suffered minor injuries, in a Facebook post.

For passengers with more serious injuries, the airline is offering “an advance payment of $25,000 to address their immediate needs” and more in-depth discussions to address “their specific circumstances.”

A 73-year-old British passenger died and dozens were injured when Flight SQ 321 encountered turbulence over Myanmar and was diverted to Thailand in May.

Singapore Airlines has not yet responded to a request from BBC News for more information on how many people will be eligible for the payments.

More than a hundred people who were at SQ 321 were treated at Bangkok hospital following the incident.

Initial investigations showed that the plane accelerated rapidly up and down and fell approximately 54 m (178 feet) in 4.6 seconds.

Passengers described how crew members and those not wearing seat belts were thrown through the air and slammed against the cabin ceiling.

A Bangkok hospital where the passengers are being treated said there were spinal cord, head and muscle injuries.

There were 211 passengers – including many Britons, Australians and Singaporeans – and 18 crew members on board the Boeing 777-300ER at the time of the incident.

The airline said it would offer a full fare refund to all passengers on the flight, including those who were not injured.

Additionally, Singapore Airlines said passengers will receive compensation for delays in accordance with European Union or UK regulations.

The airline also offered S$1,000 ($739; £580) to all passengers to cover immediate expenses and arranged flights for relatives to the Thai capital upon request.

Under international regulations, airlines must provide compensation when passengers are injured or die on board an aircraft.

The incident drew attention to seat belt practices, as airlines generally allow passengers to unbuckle their belts under normal cruising conditions.