Linda Kitchen, 74, has launched High Court proceedings against Singapore Airlines after severe turbulence on a London Heathrow flight left her with a broken back and her husband, Geoff, dead. The aircraft was diverted for an emergency landing in Bangkok, Thailand, after suddenly dropping about 6,000ft (1,828 metres) over Myanmar in May 2024. The Kitchens, from Thornbury near Bristol, had been beginning a six-week holiday to Singapore, Indonesia and Australia. Injuries after sudden drop Lawyers acting for Mrs Kitchen say Geoff Kitchen, 73, was fatally injured during the incident, while she suffered severe back injuries. It is understood that he suffered a heart attack after the aircraft's sudden drop at high altitude. "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," Mrs Kitchen 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." Mrs Kitchen said her husband fell on top of her as the aircraft plummeted, crushing her against an armrest. Other passengers helped move him and a doctor on board began CPR. Oxygen masks were deployed in the cabin. She was taken to hospital in Bangkok while her husband remained on the aircraft. It was two days before she was told that he had died. "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," she said. Claim seeks specialist support Mrs Kitchen spent 10 days in hospital before being airlifted back to Bristol. She then remained in hospital in the UK for about another week and required substantial help at home after discharge. "I was in so much pain that the journey was a blur," she said. Pictures courtesy of BBC Her claim seeks damages from Singapore Airlines to help fund specialist support for her back. Anthe Korelidou, the specialist aviation lawyer representing Mrs Kitchen, said the injuries showed the seriousness of what happened. "That Geoff was fatally injured and Linda suffered severe injuries vividly highlights the severity of what happened," she said. Family seeks answers Ms Korelidou said that, while it was more than two years since Geoff's death, Mrs Kitchen and her family still had questions about the incident and whether more could have been done to prevent the injuries. "All Linda wants is for the most thorough investigations to be conducted," she said. "The issuing of High Court proceedings is a major milestone in being able to provide Geoff's loved ones with the answers they deserve." Join the discussion? 31 August 2026
View full article
Create an account or sign in to comment