SINGAPORE — A Singapore air safety investigation has found that turbulence can strike aircraft even when they maintain the recommended distance above storm clouds, following an incident in November 2025 that injured five cabin crew members on a Singapore Airlines (SIA) flight, The Straits Times reported.

The Transport Safety Investigation Bureau (TSIB), in a report dated Oct 5, said the incident highlighted how convective activity could extend beyond the tops of storm clouds detected by weather radars, exposing aircraft to turbulence despite recommended weather avoidance margins. 

According tot the report, the incident occurred on Nov 14, 2025, when flight SQ919, an Airbus A350-900 travelling from Manila to Singapore, encountered turbulence at about 7.53pm.

One cabin crew member suffered a fractured right ankle while four others sustained minor injuries.

The pilots had detected storm clouds about 80 nautical miles ahead while cruising at 40,000ft.

The English daily reported that, they estimated the clouds were at about 30,000ft and continued along their planned route, keeping the aircraft 10,000ft above them, exceeding the manufacturer’s recommended vertical separation of 5,000ft.

The pilots switched on the “fasten seat belt” signs as a precaution and advised cabin crew to continue service cautiously.

When air traffic control later instructed them to descend to 34,000ft, they opted for a slower descent of 700ft per minute to maintain greater separation from the storm clouds.

Despite these precautions, the aircraft encountered turbulence while descending at about 38,450ft.

Flight data recorded rapid changes in vertical acceleration, which fell from plus 1G to plus 0.7G in 1.34 seconds before rising to plus 1.89G in 0.34 second.

According to The Straits Times the acceleration then fluctuated before dropping to plus 0.24G, with the aircraft returning to stable flight after several seconds.

The pilot told investigators that the plane was not flying through storm clouds when the turbulence struck.

The TSIB report noted that the pilots had reviewed pre-flight briefing materials forecasting occasional storm clouds reaching heights of 51,000ft. The aircraft landed safely in Singapore at 8.41pm.

In response to queries, SIA said it acknowledged the findings and that its pilots and cabin crew received regular training, guidance and safety updates on managing turbulence.

The cabin crew member who suffered the fractured ankle has since returned to flying duties.