Severely injured passengers require long-term treatment and care. They are requested to receive as much treatment as necessary, and are offered an advance payment of $25,000 to cover their immediate needs,” which will be considered a part of the final settlement, the airline said.

Actual Incident

On May 21, Flight SQ321 en route from London to Singapore encountered severe turbulence on May 21 this year. The Boeing 777-300ER aircraft had taken off from the airport with 211 passengers and a crew of 18, but encountered turbulence and made an emergency landing at Bangkok Suvarnabhumi Airport. Passengers and crew were thrown onto the roof of the plane as per the pilot and crew reversed decision which resulted in the death of one passenger and serious injuries to several passengers and crew.

Passengers told the media that the crew and passengers who were not restrained left the floor or their seats and hit the cabin ceiling very hard. As a result, the ceiling of the flight was cracked. The hospital in Bangkok also confirmed that the injured passengers had spinal cord, brain, and skull injuries.

1 died and 104 were injured in this flight-turbulence

It fell 54 meters in less than five minutes while flying over Myanmar, causing a strong aftershock. According to reports, a 73-year-old British man died of a heart attack during the incident. After that flight was diverted from its primary route to Bangkok for an emergency landing.

104 were injured among the 211 passengers and 18 crew onboard. Among the injured people, 12 members were admitted to the hospital in Bangkok.  SIA said 20 passengers on the flight are still receiving treatment in hospitals in Bangkok.  The airline confirmed that they are bearing the medical expenses of all the injured passengers and crew. They also arranged for the family members and loved ones of the injured to return to their destinations.

SIA compensated all passengers on the flight

SIA took action against this incident very humanely. They compensate passengers for delays according to European Union or United Kingdom regulations. Everyone on the flight was also given 1,000 Singapore dollars or $740 and a full refund of the flight. The airline requested passengers to fly from Bangkok to cover immediate expenses.

After the incident, Singapore Airlines adopted a more cautious seat belt policy. They reiterated to passengers and crew that serving hot drinks and food on flights while the seat belt sign is on is now off.

The U.S. National Transportation Safety Board says it’s rare for passengers to be so seriously injured by flight turbulence. However, this phenomenon is often seen in commercial airlines.

A report by the SIA in May said that the airline is fully cooperating with the Transport Safety Investigation Bureau and other relevant authorities in the investigation of the incident.

According to Lawyers about the flight turbulence

Lawyers say that if passengers sue the airline against the incident, they will not be able to contest damages of up to $175,000. However, if more compensation is sought, Singapore Airlines may try to limit its liability by proving various facts. Note that they treated the passengers and crew fairly humanely and took all necessary measures to avoid disturbance.

Cause of flight turbulence

In a report, Singapore’s Ministry of Transport said the 54 m (177 ft) height drop was caused by a rapid change in gravity, causing the passengers and crew to become airborne.

They believe the plane may have been flying over an area of ​​”developing activity” at the time, which could cause bad weather to develop.

Unstable weather patterns that trigger storms can cause flight turbulence when aircraft fly over the area, especially if not detected by radar. If detected, pilots fly around potential patches to avoid accidents. It is the normal cause of the turbulence.

Another type, clear air turbulence, is strong rotation even when there are no clouds in the region. It is very difficult to predict where such invisible pockets of air will appear.

This accident occurred during the flight due to not being aware of seatbelt practice. Now Singapore Airlines has made the seatbelt policy much stricter, with punishment guaranteed if any crew does not follow it.

Singapore Airlines is one of the widely recognized as the world’s leading airlines and a benchmark for this industry. They have not had major incidents in recent years.

The post Singapore Airlines Compensated Passengers Who Faced the Turbulence-Hit Flight appeared first on Best Flights Tickets.

The Airports Company of South Africa (ACSA), which owns nine major airports in the country, confirmed that the bomb squad has been operating at the airport since Thursday evening. Passengers or their relatives have no reason to worry now. SAPS and relevant law enforcement agencies are also rushing to the scene to manage security threats at the airport, airport, and airline management to ensure compliance with all necessary aviation safety and security protocols.

Acsa regional manager Mark McLean confirmed: “Police are working together with the Aviation Security (AVSEC) team and have taken all necessary measures to mitigate any risk associated with this threat. He says the two companies must be commended for the quick response and action they took on the serious security concerns. We also appreciate the combined efforts of the police and AVSEC to maintain the safety of passengers and cabin crew.”

What do passengers say about the threat?

Passengers said they were scared enough of this bomb threat. They have tried to fully cooperate with the Bomb Squad personnel. But they had to stay on the plane for hours during the search.

Passenger Tony Gaffney told SAFM that after boarding the plane they were told there was an “operational problem” and they needed to attend. After four hours, they were accosted and transferred to a different plane. He also said that he and his fellow passengers understood very well that there was a bomb threat.

The crew of FlySafair flight FA102 was scheduled to depart for Johannesburg or Tambo International Airport (JNB). Passengers and crew were warned of a potential security threat shortly before it left. According to Flightradar24, flight 102 was scheduled to depart Cape Town at 17:25 and arrive in Johannesburg at 19:30 local time. However, the flight was delayed for more than five hours due to this bomb threat.

According to ACSA, some of the comments made by two passengers aboard Flight 102 caused so much panic among passengers. However, the Flysafe plane was declared safe by the SAPS shortly after the incident. Two people were arrested as soon as they became suspicious. The entire matter is currently being handled by the SAPS. Therefore, the airport could not make any further comments on the matter.

All operations are now back to normal at Cape Town International Airport.

Operations at Cape Town Airport are back to normal until June 7 due to last night’s security threat. Arrangements were made by the airport to rebook the affected passengers on other flights and reach their destinations safely. Flightradar24 shows FlySafair Flight 102 finally departing Cape Town at 22:44 and arriving at its destination at 00:25.

Statement of Mark McLean for the incident

To ensure the safety of all passengers and crew of the aircraft, almost all security measures are taken by the airport and SAPS. Wertan from the SAPS, a certified South African Civil Aviation Authority (SACAA) detection dog came to the airport and visited the aircraft. ACSA Regional General Manager Cluster 2 Mark McLean elaborated on the security threat.  

He pointed out that successful mitigation of threats is the result of good management, cooperation, and adoption of advanced security measures. He highlighted the importance of security assurance and said that their company never compromises with quality of the security. The airport did not have any details about the two passengers, whose reckless remarks caused panic among passengers. But the incident serves as a reminder; that any careless comment can land you in serious trouble.

Drug bust at Cape Town airport on June 6

In another incident at Cape Town International Airport on June 6, a 70-year-old traveler was allegedly found with packets of crystal methamphetamine (Tic) worth $32,000 (R600,000) in a hidden compartment of his luggage. On Thursday the SAPS’ Directorate of Criminal Investigation (DPCI), also known as the Hawks, had information about a foreign national trying to leave the country with a large amount of drugs.

Lt Col Siabulela Vukubi said the suspected drug mule, a foreign national, was trying to leave SA with 4.1kg worth of drugs. After he became suspicious to the police, he was tracked down at the airport and his luggage was searched, eventually leading to his arrest on drug-trafficking charges.

The post 2 Passengers Were Arrested for a Bomb Threat and a 70-Year-Old Passenger Was Arrested for Drug Dealing at Cape Town Airport appeared first on Best Flights Tickets.

America’s newly launched routes are highlighted below

New Routes:
• Philadelphia (PHL) to Nice, France (NCE): On May 6, 2024, American Airlines started daily nonstop service from Philadelphia to Nice, France. It will offer access to the French Riviera for the Cannes Film Festival guests.
• Philadelphia (PHL) to Naples, Italy (NAP): New daily flights to Naples will start on June 5, 2024. This will make it easier for travelers to explore destinations such as Pompeii and the Amalfi Coast.
• Philadelphia (PHL) to Copenhagen, Denmark (CPH): American Airlines will going to launch daily flights to Copenhagen on June 6, 2024, expanding travelers’ reach to Scandinavia.

What does the Senior Vice President of American Airlines say about their new project?

Brian Znotins, The Senior Vice President of Network and Schedule Planner of American Airlines, is excited to add these three new European destinations. He says their new service from Philadelphia, plus expanded trans-Atlantic service from Chicago and Dallas-Fort Worth, will help to connect more than 200 destinations in the US in the coming days. It will greatly help travelers expand their travel this summer.

Znotins also added Tickets for these new routes will be available from 24th Aug. 2024 on American Airlines’ official website or its mobile app.

Airlines launched new routes from Philadelphia to 14 destinations in Europe:

American Airlines announced they are going to start 15 daily nonstop flights from PHL to 14 European destinations this summer. The project follows the largest trans-Atlantic schedule since the City of Brotherly Love was announced by the airline in 2019. American Airlines aims to offer European customers convenient one-stop access to more than 70 domestic destinations from PHL.

The service between Airlines PHL and NCE, which will be launched on May 6, is considered to have enough importance as a gateway to the glitz and glam of the French Riviera. They want to start this service as soon as possible to mesmerize the guests with the flashing lights of the ears.

Brian Znotins announced the inauguration of the new service to the airline’s fourth Italian destination from NAP on June 5. It’s a great opportunity for adventure lovers who want to enjoy almost everything in one trip, from indulging in local Neapolitan pizza and cuisine to the historic ruins of Pompeii and sunbathing on the Amalfi Coast.

He also said that after the launch of CPH’s services on June 6, they will connect 11 European countries through flights. For a long time, Scandinavia was elusive to many American travelers. Now with this new service, they can easily explore the colorful buildings in Nyhavn harbor, taste the traditional butter cookies there, and experience near-endless daylight.

More connections offered by the airlines across the Atlantic

American Airlines has updated that their next project will be between DFW and BCN next summer. This route is expected to offer unmatched scheduling options. The airline hopes that this project will expand its position as the largest US airline serving BCN. Their new service, with five gateways across the US, provides American travelers with the highly efficient schedule and network they’ve been wanting to offer for so long.

Brian Znotins is delighted to announce that AA will be the only airline to offer nonstop flights connecting ORD and VCE and the Windy City to the Water City. It will complement existing flights between PHL and VCE, additional flights from ORD help to increase traveler flexibility and the service will connect to more than 100 domestic destinations, including Midwest cities.

The airline has recently expanded its service to several other key trans-Atlantic destinations, including Lisbon, Portugal (LIS), Madrid (MAD), and Rome (FCO), also. The service is expected to offer travelers flexibility in planning their 2024 summer vacation

Expanded Services:

• Dallas/Fort Worth (DFW) to Barcelona, Spain (BCN): Daily flights will start on June 5, 2024.
• Chicago (ORD) to Venice, Italy (VCE): The airline is resuming daily service on this route on June 5, 2024, which will complement existing service from Philadelphia to Venice.
• Earlier Seasonal Restarts: The airlines will start their service in early summer on several routes from Charlotte (CLT) to Dublin (DUB), New York (JFK) to Athens (ATH), and Philadelphia (PHL) to Venice (VCE).

The route offered by the airlines from winter travelers

This winter, the airline will strengthen its position as the largest US airline by launching the largest network between the US and Mexico, the Caribbean, and Latin America. They are looking to expand the largest schedule in the region.

In addition to this, the airline has decided to increase the number of daily flights between DFW and Buenos Aires (EZE) for daily service, starting this October.

Travel with great convenience as part of American Airline’s AAdvantage

American Airlines offers the AAdvantage loyalty program that helps customers enhance their travel experience. Airlines offer AAdvantage memberships through which members can use flight miles to nearly 1,000 destinations worldwide. Below are some ways you can redeem yourself with AAdvantage.

• If you have 7,900 AA Advantage miles you get access to the Admirals Club® Lounge for one day
• After booking a trip, you can use miles to reserve the best seats in the main cabin with extra legroom and complimentary snacks and drinks.
• AAdvantage members can personalize certain adventures by booking vacations with airlines using the miles available to them.

Travelers who are not AA Advantage members can join for free by registering on the American Airlines official website to earn miles and loyalty points.

The post American Airlines Efforts to Enhance Its Global Network and Improve Connectivity appeared first on Best Flights Tickets.