BRISTOL — The widow of a man who died after a Singapore Airlines flight hit severe turbulence has begun legal action against the carrier at the High Court. Linda Kitchen, 74, from Thornbury near Bristol, says her husband Geoff was fatally injured when the aircraft suddenly dropped thousands of feet, leaving her with a broken back. She is seeking damages to help cover specialist support for her recovery. The couple were starting a six-week holiday when the incident happened in May 2024.
Lawyers acting for Ms Kitchen say the case is intended to secure answers about what happened and whether more could have been done. The BBC has contacted Singapore Airlines for comment.
How the flight from London Heathrow turned into an emergency
Mr and Ms Kitchen were on a Singapore Airlines flight from London Heathrow that was travelling towards Singapore when the turbulence struck over Myanmar. The plane was later diverted to Bangkok in Thailand for an emergency landing. Ms Kitchen said the worst of the turbulence came about 10 hours into the journey, after earlier patches of shakier air over Europe and over the water.
She described the aircraft as appearing to drop suddenly, with loose items thrown to the floor and the cabin feeling as if the plane was going down. Ms Kitchen said her husband fell on top of her as the aircraft plummeted, leaving her crushed against the armrest. Other passengers helped move him, and a doctor on board began CPR.
It is understood Mr Kitchen suffered a heart attack after the aircraft dropped at high altitude.
Months in hospital and a difficult return to the UK
Ms Kitchen said she was taken to hospital while her husband was still on the plane and did not learn of his death until two days later. She said the news was devastating, especially because she and Mr Kitchen had been travelling together as soul mates on the first leg of a long holiday to Singapore, Indonesia and Australia.
She spent 10 days in hospital in Thailand before being airlifted back to Bristol. She said the flight home was blurred by pain and that she then remained in hospital in the UK for about a week. After discharge, she needed significant help at home because of the injuries she suffered in the incident.
Her legal team says the claim is also about securing support for her ongoing back problems and the specialist care she may need in future.
Legal claim seeks answers more than two years after death
Anthe Korelidou, the aviation lawyer representing Ms Kitchen, said the circumstances showed how serious the incident was, given that Mr Kitchen was killed and his wife was badly hurt. She said the family still has questions and concerns about what happened and whether the injuries might have been prevented.
Ms Korelidou said issuing High Court proceedings was an important step towards giving Mr Kitchen’s loved ones the answers they have been seeking. She added that Ms Kitchen wants a thorough investigation into the circumstances of the flight and the events that followed. More than two years have passed since Mr Kitchen died, but the case is now moving into formal legal action.
Singapore Airlines has been approached for a response to the claim.
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