Rapid changes in gravitational force ‘led to 178ft altitude drop on plane’

The Boeing 777-300ER aircraft of Singapore Airlines parked after the SQ321 London-Singapore flight that encountered severe turbulence, at Suvarnabhumi International Airport, near Bangkok, Thailand (Sakchai Lalit/AP)

The Singapore Airlines jetliner that hit severe turbulence last week went through huge swings in gravitational force in less than five seconds, likely causing the injuries to people who weren’t buckled into their seats, according to a preliminary report Wednesday by Singapore’s Transport Ministry.

Geoff Kitchen, 73, died of a suspected heart attack and dozens were injured after the Boeing 777, which was flying from London’s Heathrow Airport to Singapore on May 21, ran into turbulence that hurled people and items around the cabin.