BA12 SIN-LHR Jun 15 Returns to SIN : Severe Turbulence
Jun 18, 2023, 3:21 am
#61
Join Date: Jun 2013
Location: UK
Programs: BA GGL, BA Amex Prem, Amex Plat, Hilton Diamond, Sir Crazy8534 de l'ordres des aides de Pucci
Posts: 4,565
Happy Fathers Day to all!
Jun 18, 2023, 5:42 am
#62
Join Date: Jan 2005
Programs: BA silver.
Posts: 213
From the earlier descriptions it is clear that when this sort of turbulence happens there is a risk to those on board succumbing to injuries but is there ever any risk to the aircraft's structure or ability to stay in the air? Genuine question - I have no understanding of aerodynamics but if I experienced this I would be extremely nervous!
All best wishes to the flight crew.
Jun 18, 2023, 7:52 am
#63
Join Date: Aug 2008
Posts: 2,087
Whenever anything like this happens, I check in with a friend who's ex-Boeing. According to him, in a situation like this, the plane itself is safe as houses. They get tested to within an inch of their lives. When they attach the wing to the fuselage, for instance, they do (or at least did in his time) a test behind the Everett factory - they take the edge of the wing and pull it up, all the way to the breaking point. It can take a huge amount of stress.
All best wishes to the flight crew.
All best wishes to the flight crew.
This is a B787 wing stress test - see how far it can bend and still be okay
Jun 18, 2023, 7:59 am
#64
Moderator: British Airways Executive Club, Marriott Bonvoy
Join Date: May 2006
Location: Englandshire
Programs: SPG LT Plat, BA G, BD*LG, MG Blue+ ...
Posts: 16,113
Worth bearing in mind though that the majority of accidents when planes experience extreme conditions are primarily down to human factors, not the wings snapping off.
Jun 18, 2023, 12:31 pm
#65
Join Date: Nov 2012
Location: Rhineland-Palatinate
Programs: *A Gold (A3), HHonor Gold
Posts: 5,771
I was on this flight and it was terrifying, the captain came out and confirmed that we dropped 1000ft in just under one second, with 3Gs of gravitational force apparently. Luckily, there was a doctor on board who rushed to aid of the crew and hopefully they recover well. Many passengers are being asked to wait 4 days in Singapore with very limited flights returning back to London as there are not enough available seats. Hopefully all involved recover physically and psychologically as was a very scary flight.
A force of 3G is a drop of 100 ft/s.
Jan 15, 2024, 9:05 am
#67
Original Poster
Join Date: Jul 2015
Location: London
Programs: BA GGL / GfL
Posts: 3,365
Final AAIB report has been released on this and makes for an interesting read. What I didn't realise was that G-YMML into Beijing on the 28th of June also suffered from turbulence which injured a crew member.
AAIB January 1/2024 Bulletin (publishing.service.gov.uk)
Pilot37
AAIB January 1/2024 Bulletin (publishing.service.gov.uk)
Pilot37