Following the events on a Singapore Airlines flight that saw a man lose his life after severe turbulence, people have vowed never to fly on a Boeing plane ever again.
The most recent disaster for the airline company occurred when a Boeing 777 aircraft, en route from London to Singapore, encountered an air pocket and plummeted 6,000 feet in just five minutes.
The sudden descent caused chaos on board, forcing an emergency landing at Bangkok's Suvarnabhumi Airport.
Passengers aboard the flight shared footage of the cabin in disarray, with items strewn across the floor.
Geoffrey Kitchen, 73, tragically died, possibly from a heart attack. Of the 211 passengers, including 56 Australians, 47 Britons, and four Americans, 143 continued to Singapore on a relief flight.
Seventy-nine passengers and six crew members stayed in Bangkok, including those receiving medical care.
Singapore Airlines CEO Goh Choon Phong expressed condolences and assured cooperation with the investigation. "On behalf of Singapore Airlines, I would like to express my deepest condolences to the family and loved ones of the deceased passenger.
"We also deeply apologize for the trauma experienced by all passengers and crew members on this flight. We are providing all possible assistance and support to them, along with their families and loved ones, during this difficult time. The wellbeing of our passengers and staff is our utmost priority."
In response to this incident, many flyers have vowed to avoid Boeing jets, citing a series of well-publicized safety issues involving the manufacturer’s planes.
One X user declared: "Never flying another Boeing plane. If it's Boeing, I'm not going," while another wrote: "Boycott Boeing. I am never flying in a Boeing made airline again."
Another user added: "Bro at this point I’m never flying on Boeing plan again I refuse to gamble with my life this."
While Boeing is under scrutiny for the safety of their planes, they've also received attention after two whistleblowers lost their lives.
Joshua Dean, a former quality auditor at Spirit AeroSystems, a key supplier for Boeing, died of a "sudden illness" after exposing defects in 737 Max jets.
Dean had been terminated from Spirit AeroSystems in April 2023, a dismissal he attributed to his questioning of safety standards.
His concerns gained wider attention when he spoke with NPR earlier this year, emphasizing the repercussions of raising safety issues. "I think they were sending out a message to anybody else. If you are too loud, we will silence you," Dean stated.
Dean was represented by the same legal team assisting John Barnett, another Boeing whistleblower, until Barnett's death in March.
Barnett, 62, was found dead in a hotel car park, reportedly having taken his own life just before he was scheduled to testify in a lawsuit against his former employer.
