SINGAPORE- Singapore Airlines (SQ) faces a personal injury lawsuit from three passengers who were injured during severe turbulence aboard Flight SQ321 in May 2024.
The Boeing 777-300ER was en route from London Heathrow (LHR) to Singapore Changi Airport (SIN) when it encountered extreme turbulence over Myanmar, dropping 178 feet in just 4.6 seconds.
The incident killed 73-year-old British passenger Geoff Kitchen, who suffered a suspected heart attack mid-air, and left over 100 people hospitalized.
Bradley Richards, Benjamin Read, and Alison Read have now filed a claim at the High Court seeking personal injury damages from Singapore Airlines for injuries sustained during the flight.
Singapore Airlines Turbulence Lawsuit Filed
Bradley Richards, a 31-year-old telecoms engineer from Benfleet, Essex, was among the most seriously hurt.
He was catapulted into the cabin ceiling during the sudden drop and suffered six spinal fractures along with cuts to his head. Richards said he believed he may have been knocked unconscious during the impact.
He recalled waking up with blood pouring from his head and used a pillow to stem the bleeding. He described the scene around him as chaotic, with children screaming and passengers running in every direction.
Richards previously described the ordeal as “something out of a movie” and feared he would be forced to change careers due to his life-changing injuries.
He claims to have immediately felt spinal pain following the drop and had to be lifted into a wheelchair when the plane made an emergency landing in Bangkok Suvarnabhumi Airport (BKK).
Benjamin Read and Alison Read are also part of the legal claim. Benjamin Read described the force of hitting the ceiling as feeling “like a rag doll.” He recalled being pinned to the ceiling and believing the aircraft had failed.
His 2-year-old son was flung backward through the cabin during the drop but was later found uninjured.
Alison Read suffered a concussion that triggered a severe seizure, while Benjamin sustained significant neck damage.
Read stated it was not an experience he ever wanted to go through again. The trio has enlisted Keystone Law to represent them, according to court paperwork.
What Happened Aboard Flight SQ321
The Singapore Airlines Boeing 777-300ER was carrying 211 passengers and 18 crew members when it struck severe turbulence approximately 11 hours into the 13-hour journey.
As reported by The Sun, the aircraft dropped roughly 6,000 feet in five minutes during the event. Some 104 people were hospitalized after the plane made an emergency landing at Bangkok Suvarnabhumi Airport (BKK), with at least 20 requiring intensive care or surgery.
Others on board recalled a feeling of terror as passengers feared the jet could plummet from the sky.
Passenger Dzafran Azmir, a 28-year-old student, recalled the aircraft tilting upward before a sudden, dramatic drop, which launched unbuckled passengers into the ceiling.
He noted that some passengers hit their heads on overhead baggage compartments hard enough to dent them and broke through panels housing lights and oxygen masks.
British Grandfather Killed During the Incident
Geoff Kitchen, 73, a retired insurance worker from Thornbury, near Bristol, died from a suspected heart attack triggered by the turbulence event.
Described by his family as a “gentle and kind” man, Kitchen was traveling with his wife Linda on the first leg of a holiday that included a cruise in Indonesia and a trip to Australia.
His family is not believed to be involved in the current legal action against Singapore Airlines.
Compensation Claims and Legal Proceedings
The claim against Singapore Airlines was filed at the High Court at the end of last month.
The exact amount each passenger is seeking has not been disclosed, but similar turbulence-related claims have historically resulted in payouts of tens of thousands of pounds per passenger.
Singapore Airlines has not yet formally responded to the claim. Both Keystone Law and Singapore Airlines were contacted for comment.
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