Wife of man who died after turbulence sues airline

Linda Kitchen, 74, of Thornbury near Bristol, has filed a High Court claim against Singapore Airlines after her husband, Geoff Kitchen, 73, died following a severe turbulence incident on a flight from London Heathrow to Singapore in May 2024. The aircraft abruptly dropped about 6,000 feet over Myanmar, prompting an emergency diversion to Bangkok. During the plunge, Geoff fell onto Linda, crushing her back against an armrest; a doctor on board performed CPR while the plane continued to Bangkok. Linda was hospitalized for ten days before being air‑lifted back to the UK, where she spent an additional week in hospital and now requires ongoing assistance at home. She alleges that Geoff suffered a fatal heart attack caused by the sudden altitude loss and that she sustained a broken back, prompting the lawsuit to obtain damages for specialist medical support.

The incident occurred roughly ten hours into the ten‑hour journey, after earlier periods of lighter turbulence over Europe and the ocean. Linda described the moment as feeling as though the aircraft was “going down,” noting that personal items such as her Kindle and Geoff’s phone fell to the floor. The turbulence’s severity, which forced the aircraft to descend rapidly, has raised questions about the airline’s handling of extreme weather and its protocols for passenger safety at high altitude. Aviation specialist Anthe Korelidou, representing Linda, emphasized that the dual fatal and severe injuries underscore the seriousness of the event and highlighted the family’s lingering concerns about whether preventative measures could have averted the tragedy.

Linda’s legal action seeks a thorough investigation into the circumstances surrounding the turbulence and the airline’s response, aiming to provide answers and compensation for the lasting physical and emotional impact on the Kitchen family. The case arrives more than two years after Geoff’s death, reflecting the family’s ongoing pursuit of accountability. While the BBC has reached out for comment, Singapore Airlines has not yet responded. The lawsuit marks a significant step toward potentially influencing airline safety practices and may affect other passengers who experience similar extreme turbulence events.

⚡ Effects Interpreter