PASSENGERS could soon be forced to wear their seatbelts for the entire flight under new airline rules. The change to safety requirements comes after the Singapore Airlines incident which saw one passenger killed following unexpected turbulence. Last month, 73-year-old Geoffrey Kitchen was killed after the plane plunged nearly 180ft in seconds, with more than 100 people initially hospitalised.
And new rules could soon restrict passengers from removing their seatbelts at all during flights in a bid to prevent a similar incident. Safety experts at a number of airlines are said to be looking into how this change would be introduced, the Times reports . One aviation source, who remained anonymous , said the incident had left airline bosses "terrified [.
..] they could be next ".
They added: "The messaging is going to be massively strengthened: it’ll be ‘Stay strapped in at all times’. End off.” Emirates president Sir Tim Clark told the paper that the "whole industry is now upping in the game" to try and make passengers stay buckled up for the whole flight.
He said: "We are looking at all the protocols." If introduced, it would be one of the more significant changes to safety rules in two decades, according to travel expert Paul Charles. Other rules are already being introduced in light of the incident.
Last month, Singapore Airlines confirmed they would no longer serve hot drinks or meals when the seatbelt sign was on. They have also rerouted one of their flights - the Lond.