Wife of man who died after turbulence sues airline
Lawyers for Linda Kitchen say her husband was "fatally injured" after the flight dropped 6,000 ft.
A woman whose husband died following "severe turbulence" on a flight has initiated legal action against the airline.
Linda Kitchen, 74, from Thornbury near Bristol, who sustained a broken back during the event, has filed a lawsuit against Singapore Airlines. Her legal representatives state that her husband, Geoff Kitchen, 73, suffered "fatally injured" when the flight from London Heathrow experienced a sudden drop of approximately 6,000 ft (1,828 meters).
She has commenced proceedings in the High Court, seeking damages from the airline to facilitate access to specialized support for her back injury. The BBC has reached out to the airline for comment.
"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 recounted.
Mrs. Kitchen and her husband, whom she described as her "soul mate," were embarking on a six-week vacation to Singapore, Indonesia, and Australia when the incident occurred in May 2024.
The turbulence struck while the flight was over Myanmar, leading to an emergency diversion and landing in Bangkok, Thailand.
"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 explained. "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."
As the aircraft plummeted, Mrs. Kitchen stated that her husband fell on top of her, pressing her into the armrest. Eventually, other passengers assisted in moving him, and a doctor on board began CPR.
Mrs. Kitchen was transported to a hospital while her husband remained on the plane. She was informed of his death two days later.
It is understood that Geoff Kitchen suffered a heart attack after the plane's sudden drop at high altitude. Oxygen masks were deployed in the cabin during the incident.
"I spent 10 days in hospital before I was airlifted back to Bristol. 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," Mrs. Kitchen said.
Anthe Korelidou, a specialist aviation lawyer representing Mrs. Kitchen, commented: "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."