Linda Kitchen, whose husband Geoff died after severe turbulence on a Singapore Airlines flight, has spoken publicly for the first time and launched High Court legal action against the carrier.
Geoff Kitchen, a retired insurance professional and popular theatre director, was fatally injured when the plane he and Linda were on plummeted around 6,000 feet in minutes, according to flight data. The incident occurred in May 2024 when flight SQ321 encountered turbulence over Myanmar. Linda, who had kept her seatbelt on, suffered spinal fractures.
It was not until two days later, while Linda was in intensive care, that she was told her husband of 52 years had died aged 73. Dozens of other passengers were also injured.
Turbulence ordeal over Europe and Myanmar
Linda, now 74, of Thornbury, Gloucestershire, had departed London Heathrow with Geoff for a six-week holiday to Singapore, Indonesia and Australia. She described the moment the severe turbulence struck.
"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," she said. "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."
Hospital and aftermath
Following the turbulence, the plane diverted and landed in Bangkok. Linda was taken to hospital while Geoff remained on the aircraft. The couple's children, aged 48 and 45, flew immediately to Thailand to be by her bedside.
"I thought Geoff and I were the only ones injured until I saw the other ambulances waiting by the plane," Linda said. "When in hospital I kept asking about Geoff, but it wasn't until two days later that I was told he had passed away. When I got separated from Geoff I knew he was in a bad way, but nothing prepared me for hearing he had died. It was absolutely devastating."
Linda spent ten days in hospital before being airlifted back to Bristol. She remained in hospital for around a week after returning to the UK and required significant assistance at home following her discharge.
Legal action for answers
Linda has instructed Irwin Mitchell, expert international serious injury lawyers, to secure answers and access specialist support. The firm has now 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."
Singapore Airlines has been contacted by The Mirror for comment.
