THE wife of a grandad who was killed after “severe turbulence” on a Singapore Airlines flight has spoken on the devastating impact of his death.
Geoff Kitchen, 73, was fatally injured when the plane he and wife Linda were on plummeted, lawyers say.
Geoff Kitchen was fatally injured when the plane he and wife Linda were on plummeted, lawyers say Credit: SWNS
The Singapore Airlines plane plunged 7,000 feet in six seconds Credit: Alamy
Mum-of-two Linda was also severely hurt in the mid-air catastrophe and was left in intensive care suffering from spinal injuries.
She later found out – as she lay in intensive care – that her husband of 52 years had tragically died from a heart attack after their plane plunged 7,000 feet in six seconds.
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Linda said how she “felt pain shooting” though her after her husband fell onto her lap leaving her unable to move and screaming for help.
The Kitchens, from Thornbury, Gloucestershire, had just begun a six-week dream trip to Singapore, Indonesia, Japan and Australia when tragedy struck on May 20, 2024.
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The retired insurance worker and his wife of 51 years were travelling to Singapore on flight SQ321 which left Heathrow at 10pm.
Nearly 11 hours into the 13-hour journey, the plane diverted to Bangkok where critically injured Linda was taken off along with up to 70 injured passengers and crew.
Geoff died of a heart attack as 18 others were sent to the hospital in neck braces and slings, with some even being carried away on stretchers.
Following the turbulence, the plane diverted and landed in Bangkok. Linda was taken to hospital while Geoff was still on the plane.
Their children, aged 48 and 45, flew immediately to Thailand to be by her bedside.
Linda, who had kept her seatbelt on, said: “There had been some turbulence over Europe and it had been shaky over the water, but it was around 10 hours into the flight when we encountered the main turbulence.
“It was so severe; it felt like the aircraft was dropping. I noticed my Kindle and Geoff’s phone had fallen to the floor and I thought the plane was going down.
“The drop in altitude seemed to happen suddenly. I fell backwards and to the side and felt pain shooting through me. Geoff fell onto me and was squashing me into the armrest and I couldn’t move him. I was screaming and somehow two passengers managed to come across and help him.
“They moved Geoff near the escape door and a doctor was called to carry out CPR on him.”
Linda is now taking legal action and has filed a case at the High Court against the South East Asian airline.
Serious injury lawyers at Irwin Mitchell have issued High Court proceedings for damages against Singapore Airlines.
Anthe Korelidou, the specialist aviation lawyer at Irwin Mitchell representing Linda said: “What Linda and scores of other passengers endured on the flight must have been extremely traumatic.
“That Geoff was fatally injured and Linda suffered severe injuries, vividly highlights the severity of what happened.
“While it’s more than two years since Geoff’s death, Linda and the rest of her family continue to have a number of questions and concerns about what happened and if more could have been done to prevent their injuries.
“All Linda wants is for the most thorough investigations to be conducted. The issuing of High Court proceedings is a major milestone in being able to provide Geoff’s loved ones with the answers they deserve.”
Linda’s case comes after a report said issues with the on-board weather radar “cannot be ruled out”.
A spokesperson for Singapore Airlines said they were unable to comment on matters which are before the courts.
