A holidaymaker who suffered severe spinal and neck injuries when a Singapore Airlines flight was struck by turbulence says he’s “still fighting to recover” from the traumatic experience two years on.
Fibre engineer Bradley Richards was asleep in his cabin seat when the SQ321 flight from London Heathrow suddenly dropped 178ft in under five seconds, according to preliminary investigation reports following the incident in May 2024.
The 30-year-old, who was on his way to Bali for a holiday, woke up with blood pouring from his head to witness a scene of chaos onboard with children screaming, people on the floor in the aisle and luggage scattered everywhere.
Taken to a hospital in Singapore after landing, Mr Richards, from Benfleet in Essex, was filmed with a neck brace and bandage around his head as he spoke to television reporters. He said he had multiple fractures in his spine and neck.
Speaking for the first time since returning to the UK, Mr Richards has described the impact of the incident on his life as he and several other UK passengers pursue legal action against Singapore Airlines for personal injury damages.
He said: “The severe turbulence on SQ 321 was terrifying for everyone on board. I sustained serious injuries that, two years later, I am still fighting to recover from.
“They have had a significant impact on my job and my life. I was a field operative for Open Reach for their fibre network operations, now I am desk bound.”
Mr Richards, who is being represented by legal firm Keystone Law, said that he hoped to hold Singapore Airlines to account through the High Court.
Singapore Airlines has been approached by The Independent on Mr Richards’ case.
Following the incident, Goh Choon Phong, chief executive officer of Singapore Airlines, apologised to those onboard the flight, which had been scheduled to arrive in Changi Airport in Singapore.
On board the flight, which was diverted to Bangkok for an emergency landing, were 211 passengers and 18 crew members.
Among them was Geoff Kitchen, who died from a suspected heart attack. Mr Kitchen, 73, was with his wife Linda, 74, who suffered serious spinal injures and was place in intensive care.
Mrs Kitchen, who is from Thornbury near Bristol, is also seeking damages from the airline. She told The Independent last month: “Losing Geoff was a crushing blow to the whole family as we all thought he would be around to see his grandchildren grow up. We had a happy and fulfilled marriage and now I’ve lost my soulmate.”
Others in the UK to have launched legal action against the airline include Jack Jenkins, Hannah Fullerton, Andrew Dawood, Bryan Matthews and Pauline and Michael Rainey, according to High Court records.
James Healey-Pratt, partner at Keystone Law, said: “It is a shame that Singapore Airlines have not admitted legal responsibility, as this just strings things out for the injured passengers and drives up legal costs. Good for lawyers but bad for injured passengers.”
A spokesperson for Singapore Airlines said it was unable to comment on matters before the court.
