A Bristol widow is pursuing legal action following the tragic death of her husband due to intense turbulence on a flight. Linda Kitchen, 74, from Thornbury, has filed a lawsuit at the High Court against Singapore Airlines. Her husband Geoff, 73, suffered fatal injuries when their flight from London Heathrow to Singapore experienced a sudden drop of approximately 6,000 feet (1,828 metres).
The incident occurred in May 2024 while the couple was embarking on a six-week holiday to South East Asia and Australia. The turbulence intensified over Myanmar, leading to an emergency diversion to Bangkok for an unscheduled landing. Linda, who broke her back during the incident, is seeking compensation for specialist treatment for her injury.
Recalling the terrifying ordeal, Mrs. Kitchen explained that turbulence had been minor until about ten hours into the flight, when the situation deteriorated rapidly. She described a harrowing scene where personal items fell and the aircraft felt as though it was plummeting. Geoff fell onto her amidst the chaos, resulting in severe injuries for both, and despite receiving CPR from a doctor on board, Geoff did not survive.
Linda was unaware of her husband’s passing until two days after the incident, having been hospitalised in Bangkok for ten days before being airlifted back to Bristol. Her recovery required extensive care, both in the hospital and at home.
Anthe Korelidou, an expert in aviation law representing Mrs. Kitchen, stressed the gravity of the situation, noting the lasting impact on the bereaved family and highlighting the need for thorough investigations into the incident. Initiating High Court proceedings marks a crucial step towards uncovering potential preventative measures that could have avoided such tragic consequences.
Reporting based on coverage first published by bbc.co.uk.