Linda Kitchen, 74, is suing Singapore Airlines (SIA) over the death of her husband, Geoffrey Kitchen, following severe turbulence on their flight. He experienced a fatal heart attack during the turbulence on flight from London to Singapore on May 21, 2024.
Severe Turbulence Injures Passengers
SIA flight SQ321 was carrying 211 passengers and 18 crew members when severe turbulence caused the plane to drop over 54 metres in just five seconds over Myanmar. The plane was then diverted to Suvarnabhumi Airport in Bangkok, Thailand, for an emergency landing.
During the turbulence, Geoffrey Kitchen fell on his wife, pinning her against the seat armrest. Other passengers helped move him and CPR was performed. Linda suffered injuries to her back and was taken to the hospital in Bangkok, where she spent 10 days before flying back to Bristol. She was also hospitalised for another week in the UK, and was told about her husband’s death two days after the incident.
The severe turbulence is likely to be caused by storm clouds that went undetected by onboard weather radar, according to Singapore’s Transport Safety Investigation Bureau (TSIB). However, the TSIB said that it was unclear whether there were any technical issues with the weather radar system.
Compensation Offered After Turbulence
Following the incident, SIA offered compensation to passengers on board. Passengers with minor injuries were offered US$10,000 (S$13,500), while those with serious injuries requiring long-term medical care and who requested financial assistance were offered US$25,000. SIA also provided a full refund to all passengers.
Linda Kitchen is seeking damages from SIA for injuries to her back and in connection with her husband’s death. According to Anthe Korelidou, the specialist aviation lawyer representing Kitchen, Linda is seeking a more thorough investigation into the incident and answers about what happened. Korelidou said,
“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.”
The Straits Times has also reported that as of Aug. 29, SIA was unable to comment on matters before the courts.
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