Singapore Airlines has taken the rare step of offering compensation to passengers affected by a turbulent flight that resulted in one fatality and several injuries. The incident occurred on a Boeing 777 jet carrying 211 passengers and 18 crew members from London to Singapore. The plane encountered sudden turbulence over the Irrawaddy basin on May 20, causing chaos inside the cabin.

Tragically, a 73-year-old British man lost his life due to a suspected heart attack during the turbulence. Many others were injured, including individuals with spinal, brain, and bone or organ damage. The severity of the turbulence caught passengers off guard, with loose items flying and injured people lying paralysed on the cabin floor.

In response, Singapore Airlines has offered $10,000 in compensation to passengers with minor injuries. For those who sustained more serious injuries requiring long-term care, the airline is open to discussing an advance payment of $25,000 to address their immediate needs. This advance payment will be part of the final compensation package for these passengers.

Additionally, the airline will provide full airfare refunds to all passengers on the affected flight, regardless of whether they sustained injuries. Delay compensation, in accordance with European Union or U.K. regulations, will also be provided to all passengers.

Singapore’s Transport Ministry conducted a preliminary investigation, revealing that the plane experienced significant swings in g-force in less than five seconds. The jet dropped 178 feet (54 meters) in less than one second, causing unbuckled passengers to become airborne before falling back down.