The Transport Safety Investigation Bureau of Singapore (TSIB) has issued its Preliminary Investigation findings of the SQ321 incident, which took place on 21 May and resulted in the death of one passenger with dozens injured inside the cabin on the...
To read the full article, please log in or enter your email below:
The Transport Safety Investigation Bureau of Singapore (TSIB) has issued its Preliminary Investigation findings of the SQ321 incident, which took place on 21 May and resulted in the death of one passenger with dozens injured inside the cabin on the Boeing 777-300ER aircraft.
The investigation team comprises TSIB investigators and United States representatives, from the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB), Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) and Boeing.
The TSIB has extracted the data stored in the flight data recorder (FDR) and cockpit voice recorder (CVR) of the Boeing 777-300ER aircraft.
The investigation team has compiled a chronology of events based on preliminary analysis of the data from FDR and CVR and the preliminary findings for flight SQ321 which departed London on 20 May indicate that the flight was normal prior to the turbulence event. As per the preliminary findings at 07:49:21 hr (UTC) on 21 May 24, as the aircraft was passing over the south of Myanmar at 37,000 ft it was likely flying over an area of developing convective activity and begin to experience slight vibrations due to vertical accelerations that fluctuated between +ve 0.44G and +ve 1.57G for a period of about 19 sec.
The TSIB findings go on to state that at the same time as the onset of the slight vibration, “an uncommanded increase in aircraft altitude, reaching a peak of 37,362 ft, was recorded. In response to this uncommanded altitude increase, the autopilot pitched the aircraft downwards to descend back to the selected altitude of 37,000 ft.”
The findings further state that the pilots also observed an uncommanded increase in airspeed which they arrested by extending the speed brakes. While managing the airspeed, at 07:49:32 hr, pilots called out that the fasten seat belt sign had been switched on.
As per the TSIB findings, the reason for this uncommanded increase in aircraft altitude and airspeed were most likely due to the aircraft being acted upon by an updraft (the upward movement of air). The autopilot was engaged during this period.
At 07:49:40 hr, the aircraft experienced a rapid change in G as recorded vertical acceleration decreased from +ve 1.35G to -ve 1.5G, within 0.6 sec. This likely resulted in the occupants who were not belted up to become airborne and at 07:49:41 hr, the vertical acceleration changed from -ve 1.5G to +ve 1.5G within 4 sec. This likely resulted in the occupants who were airborne to fall back down.
“The rapid changes in G over the 4.6 sec duration resulted in an altitude drop of 178 ft, from 37,362 ft to 37,184 ft. This sequence of events likely caused the injuries to the crew and passengers,” the findings state.
In this period the recorded data indicated that the pilots initiated control inputs to stabilise the aircraft, disengaging the autopilot in this process and then manually controlled the aircraft for 21 sec before reengaging the autopilot at 07:50:05 hr.
Over the next 24 seconds the recorded vertical acceleration showed more gradual fluctuations, ranging from +ve 0.9G to +ve 1.1G, while the aircraft returned to 37,000 ft at 07:50:23 hr.
The aircraft diverted to Suvarnabhumi Airport, Bangkok, Thailand for emergency treatment of the injured passengers and touched down in Suvarnabhumi Airport at 08:45:12 hr.
Israeli company Meprolight has received ''a significant'' contract from the Israeli Police for the supply of Sting Pro laser pointers.…
General Atomics Electromagnetic Systems has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with Israeli company Rafael to jointly develop a long-range,…
EDGE entity Beacon Red has signed a strategic Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with Presight AI, the UAE's leading AI powered…
North America's commercial aircraft services market will grow to $50 billion from $35 billion today (a 43% increase) by 2043…
General Atomics Aeronautical Systems, Inc. (GA-ASI) has demonstrated software that will provide in-flight target updates that will enable the MQ-9B…
ZeroAvia's SuperStack Flex highly-customizable LTPEM fuel cell architecture has achieved over 1.0kW/kg specific net power at a full system level,…
Northrop Grumman has been selected by the Royal Australian Air Force (RAAF) to provide the AN/ALQ-251 advanced radio frequency countermeasures…
Lockheed Martin has completed the delivery of the 51st and 52nd F-35As to the Royal Norwegian Air Force, making Norway…
L3Harris Technologies and Air Tractor have delivered the first missionized OA-1K Skyraider II aircraft to support U.S. Air Force Special…
Archer Aviation has signed an agreement with Ethiopian Airlines, making it the second customer planning to deploy Archer’s Midnight under…
ecube, aircraft disassembly specialists, were able to reuse, repurpose and recycle 83% of a British Airways Airbus A320 through a…
Vard, Norwegian subsidiary of the Fincantieri Group, has signed a contract for the design and construction of one offshore subsea…
PLD Space has signed an agreement with space logistics firm D-Orbit to deploy satellites aboard its MIURA 5 rocket to…
Embraer and South African aerospace and defence company Denel officially signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) during the LAAD Defense…
Exail has been awarded a contract by the Oceanic Observatory of Madeira (OOM) to supply a DriX O-16 Uncrewed Surface…
AAR has completed the divestiture of its non-core Landing Gear Overhaul business to GA Telesis for $51 million. On December…
The U.S has stepped up its campaign aimed at decreasing the Iranian capabilities to develop and manufacture additional armed UAVs.…
The Portuguese Air Force (PRT AF) is joining Embraer and the Brazilian Air Force (FAB) in collaborative studies to identify…
Sweden has officially committed to acquiring four C-390 Millennium multi-mission aircraft, securing the necessary production slots. The official announcement came…
Columbia Helicopters has renewed its aerial firefighting contract with CMC Savunma Sanayi A.S. (CMC) in Turkey. This marks Columbia's fifth…
Mayman Aerospace has announced the successful completion of test flights for the RAZOR P100, which will be the first commercial…
China Airlines of Taiwan has signed a firm order with Airbus for ten A350-1000s, finalising a commitment announced by the…
Rheinmetall and Lockheed Martin, partners in the Global Mobile Artillery Rocket System (GMARS) program, recent hosted a summit to discuss…
CAE Defense & Security has been awarded the competitive re-compete to support the U.S. Army Aviation Center of Excellence (AVCOE)…
Israeli company BIRD Aerosystems has obtained Supplemental Type Certificate (STC) approval for the installation of its Airborne Missile Protection System…
Turkish defence company Havelsan has signed an agreement with the Chilean Navy for the ADVENT Combat Management System (CMS). Chile…
The US Army Special Operations Aviation Command (USASOAC) has awarded Boeing a $240 million contract to remanufacture five MH-47G Block…
LEAV Aviation has partnered with AirFi to introduce a new inflight entertainment, connectivity, and retail system from March 2025. The…
AAR CORP. has extended its exclusive Serviceable Engine Products agreement with FTAI Aviation Ltd. for the CFM56 used serviceable material…
Integrated and Reliable Data Distribution Systems for Naval Platforms Developed by HAVELSAN, the Platform Data Distribution System (PDDS) and Submarine…
Headquartered in Singapore with reporters spread across all major regions, GBP Aerospace & Defence is a leading media house that publishes three publications that serve the aerospace and defence sector - Asian Defence Technology, Asian Airlines & Aerospace and Daily News. Known industry-wide for quality journalism, GBP Aerospace & Defence is present at more international tradeshows and exhibitions than any other competing publication in the region.
For over three decades, our award-winning team of reporters has been producing top-notch content to help readers stay abreast of the latest developements in the field of commercial aviation, MRO, defence, and Space.
Copyright 2024. GBP. All Rights Reserved.
Home Defence & Security Space Commercial Aviation Maintence Repair & Overhaul Daily News Events About Us
2025 GBP all rights reserved.