Additional Coverage:
- Wife of man who died during Singapore Airlines turbulence describes horror of fatal flight (themirror.com)
A woman whose husband tragically died after severe turbulence on a Singapore Airlines flight has spoken out for the first time and initiated legal action in the High Court.
Geoff Kitchen, a well-known theatre director and retired insurance professional, suffered fatal injuries when the plane he and his wife Linda were aboard suddenly dropped thousands of feet mid-flight, according to their lawyers. The incident occurred during flight SQ321 over Myanmar, with the aircraft descending approximately 6,000 feet in minutes.
Linda Kitchen, 74, who also sustained spinal fractures, was hospitalized and only learned two days later that her husband of 52 years had passed away at age 73. Dozens of other passengers were injured in the turbulence, which took place on a flight from London Heathrow bound for Singapore, Indonesia, and Australia.
Speaking publicly for the first time, Linda described the terrifying moment when the turbulence struck about ten hours into the journey. “It felt like the plane was going down,” she recalled.
“I fell backward and sideways, feeling sharp pain. Geoff fell onto me, pinning me against the armrest.
Two passengers helped him while a doctor performed CPR.” The plane was diverted to Bangkok, where Linda was rushed to hospital while Geoff remained on board.
Their two children, aged 48 and 45, flew to Thailand to be with Linda. She spent ten days in hospital there before being airlifted home to Bristol, England, where she continued her recovery.
Reflecting on the loss, Linda said, “Losing Geoff was devastating. We had a happy marriage, and he was a beloved figure in our community.
I want to understand what happened and why.”
The family has retained international injury specialists at Irwin Mitchell, who have now filed High Court proceedings seeking damages from Singapore Airlines. Aviation lawyer Anthe Korelidou emphasized the trauma endured by Linda and other passengers, noting, “Geoff’s death and Linda’s severe injuries underline how serious this incident was. The family deserves a full investigation and answers.”
As the legal process begins, Linda hopes to find clarity and justice for her late husband and the impact his loss has had on their family and community.