Fatal Turbulence on Singapore Airlines Flight

One passenger has died and at least 71 others were injured when a Singapore Airlines flight from London to Singapore encountered severe turbulence. The plane was carrying 228 passengers and 19 crew members.

The Airbus A380 aircraft was flying over the Indian Ocean when it hit a patch of severe turbulence. The plane dropped suddenly, causing passengers and crew to be thrown around the cabin.

One passenger, a 47-year-old Singaporean man, was killed in the incident. He was seated in an economy class seat near the rear of the plane.

At least 71 other passengers and crew members were injured, including 12 who were seriously hurt. The injured were taken to hospitals in Singapore for treatment.

Singapore Airlines said in a statement that the plane landed safely at Changi Airport in Singapore at 6:15 a.m. local time.

The airline said it is "deeply saddened" by the death of the passenger and is providing assistance to his family.

The cause of the turbulence is under investigation.

In a statement, the Air Transport Safety Bureau (ATSB) said it is "aware of the incident" and is "gathering information."

The ATSB is responsible for investigating aviation accidents and incidents in Australia.

The Singapore Airlines flight was the second in recent weeks to encounter severe turbulence.

On October 31, a United Airlines flight from Chicago to Honolulu was forced to make an emergency landing in San Francisco after hitting a patch of severe turbulence.

That incident resulted in 36 injuries, including 11 that were serious.

The two incidents have raised concerns about the safety of air travel.

Some experts say that severe turbulence is becoming more common due to climate change.

"As the atmosphere warms, the jet stream is becoming more erratic," said Jeff Masters, a meteorologist with the Weather Underground. "This is leading to more frequent and intense bouts of turbulence."

Other experts say that the increase in air travel is also contributing to the problem.

"There are simply more planes in the air, which increases the chances of hitting a patch of turbulence," said John Cox, a former airline pilot and safety consultant.

The International Air Transport Association (IATA) said in a statement that it is "aware of the concerns about turbulence" and is "working with airlines and regulators to improve safety."

The IATA said that turbulence is a "natural phenomenon" and that there is no way to completely eliminate it.

However, the IATA said that there are steps that airlines can take to reduce the risk of injuries from turbulence.

These steps include:

* Using weather radar to track turbulence and avoid it if possible

* Training pilots to deal with turbulence

* Providing passengers with information on how to stay safe during turbulence

The IATA said that passengers can also take steps to reduce their risk of injuries from turbulence.

These steps include:

* Wearing a seat belt at all times during a flight

* Keeping loose items stowed away

* Avoiding walking around the cabin during turbulence