The interior of Singapore Airlines flight SQ321 is pictured after an emergency landing due to severe turbulence at Suvarnabhumi International Airport in Bangkok on May 21. Reuters-Yonhap
The Ministry of Transport on Thursday unveiled a series of new safety measures to prevent in-flight accidents caused by frequent air turbulence.
According to guidelines issued by the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport, airlines must establish standard procedures for suspending cabin services such as in-flight meals and duty-free sales in the event of turbulence.
As turbulence often occurs during landing, it is recommended that in-flight service be terminated 40 minutes before landing on medium and long-haul routes and 15 minutes before landing on short-haul routes. This corresponds to an adjustment of around 20 minutes earlier than previously.
Major airlines such as Korean Air and Asiana Airlines have already implemented these measures, while other low-cost airlines have also expressed their willingness to take the government’s recommendations into account, the ministry said.
The guidelines also advise airlines to review the risks associated with serving hot soups and teas on board. Korean Air has already stopped serving instant noodles in economy class to prevent burns caused by turbulence.
In addition, airlines will increase their on-board announcements to remind passengers to remain seat belted at all times throughout the flight.
According to the ministry, air turbulence was responsible for 111 aviation accidents worldwide in the past three years, which corresponds to 61.7 percent of the total 180 accidents.
Korean airlines reported 14,820 cases of air turbulence in the first six months of this year, already accounting for 72 percent of the total last year. This figure is 78 percent higher than the same period in 2019. (Yonhap)
