Hiding in plane sight: the invisible turbulence that can strike out of a clear blue sky

On May 21, 2024, Singapore Airlines flight SQ321, traveling from London to Singapore, encountered severe turbulence over south-west Myanmar. The Boeing 777 was passing above a towering cumulonimbus cloud when, with the seatbelt signs off and passengers preparing for breakfast, the aircraft experienced moderate turbulence for 17 seconds, followed by an extreme jolt. This sudden event, described by a passenger as "like a grenade had gone off," caused unbelted individuals to hit the cabin roof with 1.5 times the force of gravity and be thrown back down. The incident highlights the dangers of invisible turbulence, an issue exacerbated by global warming, and the critical importance of keeping seatbelts fastened during air travel, even in seemingly clear skies.