“One person has died and others were injured on a flight from London to Singapore today which plummeted for a number of minutes in extreme turbulence before making an emergency landing in Thailand.
……
Those not wearing seatbelts were 'launched into the ceiling,' one said, their heads slamming into the overhead luggage containers. …”

DailyMail article:
https://mol.im/a/13442203

This message has been edited. Last edited by: Pipe Smoker,

Maybe update the Thread title to prevent duplicate threads of the same story.

Reads like there's a number of head injuries, damage to overhead areas along with one death. Passengers must've felt like a pebble in a soda can getting kicked down the street

Here's the flight track, emergency squawk behind paywall.
https://www.flightradar24.com/...raft/9v-swm#354eb60f

There are numerous reasons why someone may not have had his seat belt on at that moment of turbulence. The rolleyes is a bit pretentious.

And yes, a clearer thread title would be appreciated. I figured this would be a thread about an automobile accident.

True, but you see it often that as soon as the light is off people unbuckle & 'relax'

I'm of the fastened when seated group, though loosened a bit for comfort.

Seatbelts aren't for crashes, they're for turbulence, or when the "door plug" rips out the side of the plane. If the plane hits the ground at 500mph, you're dead anyway. If you're not wearing it when you're in your seat, you're defeating the purpose of having it at all.

I rarely fly, but when I do, I ALWAYS keep my seatbelt on unless going to the toilet! No exceptions...

quote:

Originally posted by P250UA5:
True, but you see it often that as soon as the light is off people unbuckle & 'relax'

Usually this is the same group that likes to take-off their shoes and attempts to 'relax' and extend themselves all about.
Flying over the mountains out West with all the updrafts and with heat coming off the desert, you're just better off securing yourself. Can't imagine the flying in the more humid, storm-prone areas like this.

quote:

Originally posted by corsair:

quote:

Originally posted by P250UA5:
True, but you see it often that as soon as the light is off people unbuckle & 'relax'

Usually this is the same group that likes to take-off their shoes and attempts to 'relax' and extend themselves all about.
Flying over the mountains out West with all the updrafts and with heat coming off the desert, you're just better off securing yourself. Can't imagine the flying in the more humid, storm-prone areas like this.

Same ones that are the most impatient to rush off the plane too.
I'm rarely in that much of a hurry & will gladly be near the rear of the group deplaning.
Plus, your checked bags are rarely there by the time you get to baggage claim, I'm just as fine to take my time.

The good news is that the Boeing remained airborne. Thankful for that.

Here's an 11 minute video from Juan Browne:

https://youtu.be/0UYNFthOx1o

Always have mine on but loose when seated. I have been on too many flights which have gotten choppy all of a sudden over the years. Its just like the morons wearing slippers and shorts(winter)on a plane. Crap happens and I always try to dress for the what if. I flew out of Boise during the winter and it amazed me how many people I saw wearing shorts, going to be real comfortable if you have to evacuate an aircraft. I wonder how many people lost shoes when that plug popped out of that Boeing couple months back.

quote:

Usually this is the same group that likes to take-off their shoes and attempts to 'relax' and extend themselves all about.

Uh uh. Not this guy. I saw what hapened to John McClain when he did that!

Cabin position for least turbulence disturbance is over the wings, retired airline pilot says:

“Terry told MailOnline Travel: 'The aircraft is suspended by the wings, so think of the rest of it like a springboard. The place where you'll feel turbulence the least is over the wing.

'It won't stop you from being affected entirely, though.

'I used to feel being up at the sharp end [pilot speaking], we got the worst of it. On a long, thin aeroplane, the ends bounce up and down more than the middle.' …”

DailyMail article:
https://mol.im/a/13446931

I usually opt for a seat near the wings. Less pitch effect there too.

When flying solo, I'm less picky, but with the family the less motion effect experienced, the better.

As a retired airline pilot, my experience is the worst place for turbulence is the rear of the airplane. The tail surfaces work really hard to keep the 6 axis motions to a minimum. Those sensors are typically in the avionics bay under the cockpit or just behind that.

The center of gravity is somewhere near the leading edge of the wing, so in a simple analysis we could assume the aircraft moves the least at that location. However there are aerodynamics to consider as well as structural flexing. It is like a very long arrow with the tail feathers actively trying to keep the tip stable.

The least bumpy ride will be dependent on the particular aircraft, but will be somewhere near or just forward of where the leading edge of the wing meets the fuselage. From there forward will be a good ride.

Structural flex and the aerodynamic math built into the autopilot system will affect the feel up front, giving some soft washboard effect in turbulence the further forward of the wing you are. On a very long aircraft such as used for long haul flights it would be noticeable.

My suggestion is try to be seated just forward of the wing. Further forward is ok, but definitely try to avoid behind the wing.

quote:

My suggestion is try to be seated just forward of the wing. Further forward is ok, but definitely try to avoid behind the wing.

I sat in one of the last rows on a 777 from IAH to DEN.
Didn't bother me, but it is pretty interesting being that far back on a bird that size.

Stuff like this makes me question getting up to take a piss on a flight.

I fly a fair amount, 2-3 times a month or more. I'm always belted in, I keep my shit under the seat so if I want my book or need a charger, it's within arms reach. The exceptions are going to the lav or if someone in my row needs to get up.

About a dozen years ago, on a flight to Cabo San Lucas, I experienced a drop in altitude that came on without warning. I was belted in, but I saw a slew of people and things forward of me that went for a ride. Since then, I don't hang out unbelted.

It's easy to stay belted during domestic flights, but it takes much more self-discipline to do it on long international flights (e.g. 13.5 hour flight this story is about). Kind of a PITA to sleep belted but I manage.