‘People were panicking’: Kiwi on Singapore Airlines flight home safely after severe turbulence
Friday, 24 May 2024
Kiwi traveller arrives home after “surreal” Singapore Airlines flight that hit severe turbulence.
Mikaela Gilbert said there was a “surreal silence” as the plane plummeted nearly two kilometres in three minutes.
She said she was in tears as she landed back in New Zealand.
A New Zealand traveller aboard the Singapore Airlines flight that descended sharply after hitting severe turbulence has described the “surreal silence” in the plane as it plunged through the air.
Mikaela Gilbert, 25, of Christchurch and formerly Timaru, was returning home after a month in Europe, her first big overseas trip solo, travelling on Flight SQ321 when the plane descended 1800 metres in about three minutes on Tuesday.
The Boeing 777 was carrying 211 passengers and 18 crew members.
It was still not clear what exactly caused the turbulence. The flight from London to Singapore was diverted to Thailand and a British man on board died, possibly of a heart attack.
“When it happened, everything just went up in the air,” said Gilbert, who had an emotional reunion with family at Christchurch Airport when she flew back in on Thursday morning.
“Me and my travel partner were sitting right down the back of the plane, and all of a sudden it was just happening – we were dropping.”
Gilbert gripped the sides of the seat and hung on tight, fearing the fall would not stop.
She said it was hard to remember everything that happened during the three minutes when the plane fell. The ordeal came about 10 hours into the 13-hour flight.
“People were panicking, and there was a lot happening but it was very quiet.
“It was a surreal silence, and to be honest it hasn’t really clicked yet that this has all happened.”
She said anything that had been stored in the pockets of passengers’ seats was thrown in the air, so the plane was littered with phones, glasses, headphones and shoes.
“There was a family with a baby two rows ahead, and all of the baby’s clothing was thrown backwards.
“There were things everywhere, and things in the seat pockets had all been thrown back. I lost one of my shoes.”
She said that when the plane stopped dropping and returned to a smoother flight, there was “a lot of screaming and mess”.
“When it was happening, people were shocked. So it was almost like a delayed reaction.
“After it happened, I didn’t feel an emotion. I felt like my head was very blank.”
Passengers then began talking to one another, realising what had happened, she said.
“Everyone was just trying their hardest to help people, and directions were called from the pilot, asking for any doctors on board.
“It was very much like being in a movie. It was very surreal.”
She said it was hard to concentrate for the rest of the flight, as she just wanted to get onto solid ground.
“I 100% wanted to get out. Once it had happened, we had about another 40 minutes until we could land. I was freaking out, and there was a lot of chatter.”
She said one positive aspect was passengers who had previously ignored one another during the flight began talking to one another after the turbulence.
With access to wi-fi, Gilbert was also able to message her partner and family members in New Zealand to let them know she was OK.
“I said, ‘I’m going to be a bit delayed, but don’t worry.’ I left it a bit vague.”
The pilot made an emergency landing in Bangkok, Gilbert said. Finally, after a wait, passengers were allowed to leave the plane.
She said that while getting off the plane, it was hard to shake the feeling of falling, and she felt nauseated for quite some time after.
While those around her looked at media coverage of the flight on their digital devices, Gilbert said she could not bring herself to do so.
“I don’t think it would be good for my mental health.”
In the airport at Bangkok, she waited eight hours to board another plane to Singapore and said she heard many conversations about the flight around her.
“Everyone was really nervous about the flight from Bangkok to Singapore. [I felt] every little small thing, and I was just holding onto the seat the whole time.”
Finally, on her return flight home, Gilbert said she became emotional as she got closer to New Zealand.
“I was crying before I even landed, as soon as I saw the land of New Zealand. I was just so be ready to be home.”
She said the turbulent flight had not ruined her first big trip overseas, and she felt it was important to remember this.
“At the moment it has clouded the joy in everything that happened. But in time it will fade to being more important to think about the good times.
“Luckily I’ve just come out with some bruises on my thighs from the seatbelt.
“This has also shown it’s so important to wear your seatbelt.”