Singapore Airlines is facing a lawsuit filed at the High Court by a British widow who is seeking compensation after a fatal turbulence incident in May 2024 that claimed her husband’s life and left her with significant spinal injuries.
British Widow Pursues Legal Claim After Husband’s Death on Flight
Linda Kitchen, 74, of Thornbury near Bristol, is proceeding with her case as she undergoes ongoing recovery from a broken back suffered during a turbulent Singapore Airlines flight over Myanmar. Her husband, Geoff Kitchen, 73, died as the aircraft suddenly descended by about 6,000 feet (1,828 meters) on its route from London Heathrow to Singapore.
Linda Kitchen is seeking damages to pay for specialist medical help vital for her rehabilitation, according to her legal representatives. Reflecting on the ordeal, she recalled, “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.” The airline has been approached by the media regarding the legal action.
Extreme Turbulence Causes Ongoing Trauma and Injury
At the start of what was meant to be a six-week trip across Singapore, Indonesia, and Australia, Geoff and Linda Kitchen encountered the turbulence disaster while their plane was over Myanmar. Crewmembers diverted the flight to Bangkok, Thailand for an emergency landing after the ordeal. In her account, Linda explained that the plane had already experienced some turbulence before the major incident struck around ten hours into their journey.
She recounted the frightening moments: “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.” During the incident, Linda became trapped against the armrest as Geoff fell onto her, leading to the diagnosis of a major spinal injury. Despite the efforts of fellow passengers and a doctor on board who tried to resuscitate Geoff with CPR, he could not be saved. The rapid descent apparently brought on a heart attack that caused his death.
After the incident, Linda was hospitalized in Bangkok for ten days before being airlifted back to Bristol, where she spent an additional week in hospital. Her recovery has required extensive support at home to manage her injuries.
Pursuing Justice and Full Investigation
Aviation specialist lawyer Anthe Korelidou, representing Linda Kitchen, highlighted the seriousness of the tragedy: “That Geoff was fatally injured and Linda suffered severe injuries vividly highlights the severity of what happened.” Korelidou noted that the family is still searching for answers more than two years after Geoff’s loss, hoping to determine whether anything could have been done differently to prevent the accident.
“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,” she explained.
The turbulence struck just as the Kitchens were starting a long-anticipated holiday, and Linda has affectionately described Geoff as her “soul mate.” The case is expected to examine the responsibilities and potential liabilities of airlines when passengers are severely harmed or killed by unforeseeable in-flight incidents.
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