In pictures: Onboard meals go flying as plane hits turbulence

CNN Staff
1 minute read
Updated 1:30 PM EDT, Wed June 5, 2013
A Singapore to London flight suddenly dropped 20 meters after breakfast was served, leading to chaotic scenes onboard.
Meal mayhem at 30,000 feet —
A Singapore to London flight suddenly dropped 20 meters after breakfast was served, leading to chaotic scenes onboard.
www.alancross.ca
Cabin crew were told to return to their seats mid-way through the meal service.
Meal mayhem at 30,000 feet —
Cabin crew were told to return to their seats mid-way through the meal service.
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Passengers snapped pictures of the in-flight chaos, and reported meal trays and even some people hitting the ceiling as the turbulence struck.
Meal mayhem at 30,000 feet —
Passengers snapped pictures of the in-flight chaos, and reported meal trays and even some people hitting the ceiling as the turbulence struck.
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Coffee is served -- on the ceiling.
Meal mayhem at 30,000 feet —
Coffee is served -- on the ceiling.
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Minor injuries to passengers and crew were reported by the airline.
Meal mayhem at 30,000 feet —
Minor injuries to passengers and crew were reported by the airline.
www.alancross.ca
Singapore Airlines staff were commended for the way they handled the incident, and for how quickly they got everything back in order.
Meal mayhem at 30,000 feet —
Singapore Airlines staff were commended for the way they handled the incident, and for how quickly they got everything back in order.
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You'd hardly know anything had occurred after the clean-up operation.
Meal mayhem at 30,000 feet —
You'd hardly know anything had occurred after the clean-up operation.
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Passengers were given luxury chocolates on landing -- the perfect panacea to in-flight meal mayhem.
Meal mayhem at 30,000 feet —
Passengers were given luxury chocolates on landing -- the perfect panacea to in-flight meal mayhem.
www.alancross.ca
Meal mayhem at 30,000 feet

Story highlights

Singapore to London flight dropped 20 meters leading to chaotic scenes during breakfast service

Minor injuries were reported on board the aircraft to passengers and crew

Passengers given compensatory chocolates on landing at Heathrow

CNN  — 

Images taken on a recent Singapore Airlines flight might suggest passengers had become unusually ferocious in their disdain for the onboard meal.

But this was no “Bugsy Malone”-esque food-flinging fiesta.

The plane hit turbulence shortly after breakfast was served, and the result was culinary carnage.

“Singapore Airlines flight SQ308 experienced moderate to severe turbulence en route from Singapore to London on 26 May,” said airline spokesman Nicholas Ionides.

Brace yourself: Flights set to be bumpier, costlier

“Eleven passengers and one crew member sustained minor injuries when the aircraft experienced a sudden loss of altitude and were attended to by medical personnel on arrival at Heathrow Airport.”

Passengers reported coffee cups, cutlery and even a few people were thrown about the cabin as the plane lost altitude.

Alan Cross, one of the passengers who took the images you see here, told CNN: “Everything violently rocketed off all the tray tables into the ceiling. You literally felt your stomach going into your throat.”

The mess was cleaned up soon after and passengers were given chocolate gifts on landing in London.

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