The recent incident involving a Singapore Airlines Boeing 777-300ER jet encountering severe turbulence during its flight from London to Singapore has underscored the dangers posed by this phenomenon. Here's a breakdown of what happened and why turbulence occurs:
1. **The Incident**: The flight, SQ321, experienced sudden extreme turbulence over the Irrawaddy Basin in Myanmar, leading to the death of one passenger and injuries to many others. The turbulence occurred at 37,000 feet, causing the plane to rapidly descend to approximately 31,000 feet.
2. **Understanding Turbulence**: Turbulence is caused by disturbances in the air, such as eddies and swirls, which disrupt the flight path of an aircraft. Clear air turbulence (CAT) is a type of turbulence that occurs at high altitudes where skies are clear and conditions appear serene. Unlike turbulence associated with visible weather systems like thunderstorms, CAT is invisible and strikes without warning.
3. **Severity of Turbulence**: Severe turbulence, like the one experienced by flight SQ321, can result in abrupt changes in altitude, causing the aircraft to jolt and shake violently. Unsecured passengers and objects can be thrown about, posing serious risks to safety. In extreme cases, turbulence can even cause structural damage to the aircraft.
4. **Commonality of Turbulence**: While turbulence-related incidents are relatively common in aviation, fatal turbulence remains extremely rare. Most encounters with turbulence, including CAT, end without incident. However, there have been notable accidents and injuries attributed to turbulence in the past.
5. **Precautions and Safety Measures**: Pilots and airlines take measures to minimize the risks associated with turbulence, including providing timely updates and instructions to passengers, ensuring that seat belts are fastened during flights, and avoiding known turbulent areas whenever possible.
In conclusion, while turbulence presents challenges for both pilots and passengers, understanding its causes and characteristics can help mitigate risks and ensure safer air travel experiences.
