Singapore Airlines is offering $25,000 to passengers who were seriously injured on a turbulent flight

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Singapore Airlines is offering an initial compensation of $25,000 to some passengers on a flight from London that suffered severe turbulence last month that left one person dead and multiple serious injuries.

People with injuries requiring long-term medical care were offered a $25,000 advance. For those who suffered minor injuries in the May 21 accident, the airline offered $10,000. On Tuesday, the carrier announced in a social media post that it had sent the offers to passengers on June 10.

“For those who have suffered more serious injuries as a result of the accident, we have invited them to discuss an offer of compensation based on each of their specific circumstances when they feel well and ready,” the airline said.

“For passengers who have been medically assessed to have suffered serious injuries, require long-term medical care and are requesting financial assistance, we are offering an advance payment of $25,000 to cover their immediate needs. This will be part of the final compensation these passengers will receive.”

The airline confirmed it had also given passengers A$1,000 ($740) to cover immediate post-flight expenses. It said it would provide full refunds of airline tickets to all passengers, including those who were not injured.

One person was killed and dozens were injured, including serious spinal and brain injuries, when Flight SQ321 from London to Singapore experienced sudden, extreme turbulence over Myanmar’s Irrawaddy Basin. The plane was diverted to Bangkok.

According to a preliminary chronology of events compiled by the Singapore Office of Transportation Safety Investigations, the U.S. National Transportation Safety Board, the Federal Aviation Administration and Boeing.

During the flight, there was an “uncontrolled” increase in altitude and speed while the autopilot was engaged, which the report said was most likely caused by the plane being hit by rapid upward air movement that lifted it more than 360 feet.

Overall, the incident lasted just over a minute before the aircraft returned to its planned altitude.

Turbulence, already a leading cause of non-fatal injuries in shipboard accidents, is becoming more common and more serious as global warming affects weather patterns and the Earth’s atmosphere.

The preliminary report, based on data from the plane’s “black box” flight recorder, concluded that it was most likely passing over an area of developing convective activity at an altitude of 37,000 feet when the turbulence hit. Convective weather usually refers to thunderstorms or developing clouds.

Peter Carter, principal of Carter Capner Law, a law firm representing some of the flight’s passengers, said in a statement that reimbursement of medical expenses and ticket prices was a legal obligation. The law firm advised passengers to seek legal advice before signing anything with Singapore Airlines.

An investigation by the Transportation Safety Investigation Office is ongoing.