Wife of man who died after turbulence sues airline

A widow whose husband lost his life following a severe turbulence incident on a commercial flight has initiated legal proceedings against the airline. Linda Kitchen, a 74-year-old resident from Thornbury near Bristol who suffered a broken back during the ordeal, is seeking damages to support her ongoing recovery.

The incident occurred on a Singapore Airlines flight departing from London Heathrow when the aircraft experienced a sudden drop of roughly 6,000 feet, equivalent to 1,828 meters, while flying over Myanmar. The flight was subsequently diverted to Bangkok, Thailand, for an emergency landing.

Stock photo for illustration only, not from the actual event

Kitchen and her husband Geoff, 73, whom she described as her soulmate, were embarking on a six-week holiday spanning Singapore, Indonesia, and Australia when the emergency struck in May 2024. As the plane plummeted, her husband fell on top of her, crushing her into the armrest before other passengers and an on-board doctor intervened to perform CPR.

Kitchen spent 10 days hospitalized overseas before being airlifted back to Bristol, followed by another week of inpatient care in the UK and significant support requirements upon returning home. It is understood that Geoff suffered a heart attack resulting from the abrupt loss of altitude at high elevation.