'The plane just dropped': Brit describes carnage on turbulence-hit Singapore Airlines as passengers battled in vain to revive man, 73, who died.
A passenger aboard a Singapore Airlines flight was killed today by turbulence. MailOnline has asked the experts just how this terrifying phenomenon occurs. LIVE:Turbulence is the bane of any long-haul flight, but this natural phenomenon can be far more than simply annoying.
Worryingly, as climate change continues to alter weather patterns, researchers warn that severe turbulence may become much more common. The plane jolts and lurches up and down, drinks are spilt, and walking in the aisle becomes nearly impossible. The choppy air we feel as turbulence doesn't have a single cause and comes from a number of different sources.
However, some of the most violent turbulence is caused by thunderstorms which create huge vertical currents of violent air. But even without storms or mountains, commercial aircraft can still encounter strong currents called jet streams. Professor Williams says: 'It can be difficult to avoid because it doesn't show up on the weather radar in the flight deck.'
However, the flight hit extreme turbulence while near Myanmar's aerospace, a region currently being battered by extreme tropical thunderstorms. However, full analysis of the type of turbulence that led to the fatality is likely to take some time. It is not immediately clear what caused the passenger's death but it could be due to falling objects.
As Dr Birch explains, turbulence at altitude is a totally natural and normal phenomenon that we simply don't notice much of the time. According to data published by the National Transportation Safety Board , there have been 22 fatal injuries due to a 'turbulence encounter' on US aircraft.
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