\n<\/p>\n
7:51am UTC:\u00a0<\/strong>The area outside the aircraft appeared clear. The cockpit voice recorder captured the pilot-in-command saying: “How come suddenly \u2026 let me remove this and see” \u2013 but no further discussion followed on what he saw.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n The TSIB said the pilot was surprised by the sudden onset of turbulence, and removed a sunshade to look out the window.<\/span><\/p>\n 7:53am UTC:\u00a0<\/strong>The pilot-in-command said: “We hit something, but I was on MAX \u2026 I was on MAX, I don’t see anything here” \u2013 a reference to his weather radar gain setting.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n Both pilots reported seeing no cloud outside, and neither navigation display showed weather returns.<\/span><\/p>\n After the aircraft stabilised and the turbulence subsided, the other pilot said: \u201cOkay we are clear already \u2026 The weather is okay.\u201d The pilot-in-command concurred: “Quite clear now.”<\/span><\/p>\n Cabin crew then informed the cockpit of multiple injuries in the cabin.<\/span><\/p>\n 7:55am UTC:\u00a0<\/strong>The flight crew reported the severe turbulence to Yangon air traffic control and asked whether other aircraft had made similar reports. None had.<\/span><\/p>\n The senior first officer, who had been resting in the crew rest facility, made his way to the cockpit. Along the way he saw overturned service carts, broken serviceware and an injured cabin crew member being attended to.<\/span><\/p>\n 8:01am UTC:\u00a0<\/strong>The flight crew declared Mayday and requested a diversion to Bangkok.<\/span><\/p>\n 8:06am UTC:\u00a0<\/strong>Yangon air traffic control directed the aircraft to descend from 37,000ft to 31,000ft.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n During the descent, the pilot-in-command saw altostratus \u2013 a type of greyish or bluish cloud sheet \u2013 and scattered cumulus clouds ahead. But navigation displays still showed no weather returns.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n It was only when the aircraft descended below 31,000ft that weather returns appeared on the displays, they said.<\/span><\/p>\n