Pilots reminded to take more cautious approach near weather after turbulence injures crew on SIA, Scoot flights

04/07/2026 1 Views

SCOOT INCIDENT

In the other incident, a Scoot flight bound for Guangzhou on Jun 9, 2025, encountered turbulence while cruising over international waters in the Ho Chi Minh flight information region.

The plane had been cruising for about 50 minutes when its speed began to creep upwards. Concerned that this signalled turbulence ahead, the flight crew intended to request permission from Ho Chi Minh air traffic control to deviate to the right of their flight path, but were unable to do so due to heavy radio traffic.

The pilot believed the plane could fly through a green patch of weather returns that radar indicated contained light precipitation, which is generally considered safe to pass through. As a precaution, the fasten seat belt sign was turned on to get passengers seated.

Before the pilot could ask the cabin crew to suspend services and get seated, the plane was hit by about 32 seconds of turbulence.

“During the onset of the turbulence, some of the cabin crew members were lifted off momentarily and fell back onto the cabin floor,” TSIB said.

Two cabin crew members were injured, one seriously and one with minor injuries. No passengers or flight crew were injured. The injured cabin crew members were sent to a local hospital for treatment after the plane landed in Guangzhou.

Had the fasten-seat-belt sign been switched on when the deviation was being considered, together with a PA announcement to the cabin crew, it might have given the cabin crew more time to secure themselves, TSIB found.

“The occurrence underscores the need for flight crews to be cautious when operating near weather and, when in doubt, to switch on the fasten-seat-belt sign and make a PA announcement early to inform cabin crew members of the next course of action,” the bureau said.

It added that in cases where there is insufficient time to make a PA announcement, the flight crew can cycle the fasten seat belt sign switch more than once.

After this incident, flight crews were reminded that they may deviate from their flight path without prior clearance to avoid weather and to use a special radio frequency if the regular one is congested.

All Scoot cabin crew also underwent a refreshed module on turbulence management.

AIRLINES’ RESPONSE

In response to CNA’s queries, SIA and Scoot said that they acknowledge TSIB’s findings and that they have fully cooperated with the relevant authorities and reviewed all findings in the reports.

SIA noted that it has taken several measures over the past two years to enhance its in-flight turbulence management processes, including introducing additional tools on pilots’ electronic flight tablets to help detect, anticipate and avoid areas of turbulence, strengthening pilot and cabin crew training, enhancing passenger seat-belt communications, issuing additional operational guidance on weather radar use and sharing weather radar reports with aircraft and weather radar manufacturers.

Scoot said it will continue to review its operating procedures regularly to further strengthen its safety protocols. It added that all crew members who operated the affected flight have resumed flying duties.

SIA said the affected crew members on its flight have also returned to flying duties.

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