22 injured as SIA flight hit by turbulence in Mumbai

Mumbai, Oct 19: In a close shave, a packed super jumbo aircraft of Singapore Airlines with over 430 people on board was hit by sudden turbulence during descent here, leaving eight passengers and 14 crew members injured.

The Singapore-Mumbai plane, an A380 double-deck, had 408 passengers and 25 crew on board. The injured passengers and crew were admitted at two private hospitals in suburban Andheri, SIA said here today.

Of the injured passengers, six were discharged after being provided the necessary medical assistance. The crew members were also discharged, the airlines said.

"Singapore Airlines flight SQ424 from Singapore to Mumbai experienced sudden turbulence during descent on October 18. There were 408 passengers and 25 crew on board. Eight passengers and 14 crew sustained injuries and were attended to by medical personnel on arrival at city airport," Singapore Airlines said in a statement.

"There was a medical emergency at T2 yesterday in which our medical team attended to the injured cabin crew and passengers of Singapore Airlines," Mumbai Airport Authority said in a separate statement.

SIA said it is providing full assistance to the authorities in investigations. The turbulence-hit aircraft was not grounded and it was fully operational.

The Airbus A380 is a double-deck, wide-body, four-engine jet airliner manufactured by Airbus. It is the world's largest passenger airliner, and the airports at which it operates have upgraded facilities to accommodate it.

PTI