Singapore Airlines (SQ) faces High Court legal proceedings brought by Linda Kitchen, 74, after severe turbulence on a flight from London Heathrow Airport (LHR) left her seriously injured and her husband, Geoff Kitchen, 73, fatally injured.
The incident occurred over Myanmar in May 2024 as the couple travelled from London Heathrow Airport (LHR) toward Singapore (SIN). The flight diverted to Bangkok Airport (BKK) after the aircraft suddenly dropped about 6,000 feet.
Widow Seeks Damages After Severe Turbulence
Linda Kitchen, from Thornbury near Bristol, has begun legal proceedings at the High Court against Singapore Airlines following the severe turbulence incident that claimed the life of her husband and left her with a serious back injury, BBC reported
Kitchen and her husband, Geoff, were travelling to Singapore as the first stage of a six-week holiday that also included Indonesia and Australia. The Singapore Airlines flight encountered severe turbulence about 10 hours into the journey.
The turbulence occurred over Myanmar and caused the aircraft to make an emergency diversion to Bangkok, Thailand. Kitchen said earlier parts of the flight had also experienced turbulence, including over Europe and while crossing the water, but the main incident was significantly more violent.
She described the aircraft as appearing to fall suddenly and said personal belongings, including her Kindle and her husband’s phone, were thrown onto the floor.
Aircraft Suddenly Dropped Thousands of Feet
Kitchen said the sudden movement caused Geoff to fall onto her, forcing her against the armrest and causing severe injuries to her back.
Other passengers eventually helped move Geoff, while a doctor on board began performing CPR. Kitchen was taken to hospital after the aircraft reached Bangkok, while Geoff remained on the aircraft.
Kitchen said she did not learn that her husband had died until two days later.
It is understood that Geoff suffered a heart attack after the aircraft’s sudden drop at high altitude. The incident resulted in multiple injuries among passengers and prompted the diversion to Bangkok for emergency medical assistance, BBC flagged.
Kitchen Faced a Long Recovery
Kitchen spent 10 days in hospital in Thailand before being airlifted back to Bristol. She said severe pain made the journey difficult to remember.
After returning to the UK, she spent about another week in hospital. Following her discharge, she required significant assistance at home because of her injuries.
The High Court proceedings seek damages from Singapore Airlines. Kitchen’s lawyers said the compensation would help her access specialist support for her back.
The legal action comes more than two years after the May 2024 incident and focuses on the consequences for Kitchen and her family, as well as their continuing questions about what happened.
Family Wants Answers About the Incident
Anthe Korelidou, a specialist aviation lawyer representing Kitchen, said the deaths and serious injuries demonstrated the severity of the turbulence event.
Korelidou said Kitchen and her family continue to have questions about the incident and whether more could have been done to prevent the injuries.
The legal representative said the family wants the most thorough investigations possible into the circumstances surrounding the incident.
For Kitchen, the proceedings represent an important step toward obtaining answers about the events that led to her husband’s death and her own long-term injuries.
Singapore Airlines Faces Legal Claim
The High Court case seeks damages rather than simply documenting the consequences of the turbulence. Kitchen’s legal team says the proceedings are intended to help her obtain specialist support while also seeking greater clarity over the circumstances of the incident.
Singapore Airlines had not provided a comment at the time of the report. The legal proceedings will determine the issues raised by Kitchen’s claim and any response from the airline.
The case highlights the potentially serious consequences of severe in-flight turbulence, particularly when an aircraft experiences a sudden change in altitude while passengers or crew are not fully protected from the resulting forces.
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