Woman whose husband died during turbulence describes moment plane plummeted

A wife whose husband died after severe turbulence caused the flight to drop 6,000 ft has spoken for the first time about her devastating loss has launched High Court legal action.

Popular theater director Geoff Kitchen was fatally injured when the plane he and wife Linda were on plummeted, lawyers say.

Linda also suffered spinal fractures in the incident which happened when flight SQ321 encountered turbulence over Myanmar.

Flight data showed the jet had plummeted around 6,000 feet in minutes.

It was not until two days later when 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.

Following the incident Linda, of Thornbury, Gloucestershire, instructed expert international serious injury lawyers at Irwin Mitchell to help secure answers and access the specialist support she requires.

Geoff, a retired insurance professional and Linda, a retired careers advisor, had departed London Heathrow for a six-week holiday to Singapore, Indonesia and Australia, when the incident happened in May 2024.

Linda, now 74, has spoken for the first time about the impact the incident has had on her family, including the couple’s two children, aged 48 and 45, and four grandchildren.

Linda, who had kept her seatbelt on, said: ‘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.

‘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.’

Following the turbulence, the plane diverted and landed in Bangkok. Linda was taken to hospital while Geoff was still on the plane.

Their children flew immediately to Thailand to be by her bedside.

Linda added: ‘I thought Geoff and I were the only ones injured until I saw the other ambulances waiting by the plane.

‘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 revealed she spent ten days in hospital before being airlifted back to Bristol.

She added: ‘I was in so much pain that the journey was a blur. Once back in the UK, I remained in hospital for around a week and, following my discharge, required significant assistance at home.

‘What followed was an emotional and distressing time as I tried to come to terms with Geoff’s death and the reality that I would never see him again, while also coping with considerable pain from my own injuries.

‘The last two years have been incredibly difficult. Losing Geoff was a crushing blow to the whole family as we all thought he would be around to see his grandchildren grow up. We had a happy and fulfilled marriage and now I’ve lost my soulmate.

‘He was also popular in the community, especially through his work with Thornbury Musical theater Group, and many others continue to feel the effect of his death.

‘I know nothing can bring Geoff back, but I feel I owe it to him to at least get some answers and understand the circumstances surrounding his death.’

Irwin Mitchell 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 for comment.