A 74-year-old widow is taking legal action against Singapore Airlines after her husband died when their flight plummeted 6,000 feet over Myanmar during severe turbulence. Linda Kitchen, from Thornbury near Bristol, suffered a broken back in the incident in May 2024 that killed her husband Geoff, 73. She is now seeking damages in the High Court to help fund specialist care she requires.
The couple were beginning an ambitious six-week adventure through Singapore, Indonesia and Australia when disaster struck. What was meant to be the trip of a lifetime became a nightmare 10 hours into their journey.
The Fateful Journey
Linda described the moment the aircraft suddenly dropped as “absolutely devastating”. “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,” she 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, Geoff fell on top of his wife, crushing her against the armrest. She was trapped beneath him as oxygen masks deployed throughout the cabin and panic spread among passengers.
Moments of Terror
When the turbulence finally subsided, fellow travellers rushed to help. A doctor on board attempted CPR on Geoff, but it is understood he suffered a fatal heart attack after the sudden altitude loss. Linda was stretchered off the plane and taken to hospital in Bangkok, while her husband remained on board.
It was two days before she learned he had died.
“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,” Linda said. “Once back in the UK, I remained in hospital for around a week and, following my discharge, required significant assistance at home.”
She has since broken her back, leaving her with ongoing medical needs.
Seeking Answers and Justice
Aviation lawyer Anthe Korelidou, who is representing Linda, said the family still has “questions and concerns” about what happened and whether more could have been done to prevent the injuries. “The issuing of High Court proceedings is a major milestone in being able to provide Geoff’s loved ones with the answers they deserve,” she added.
Singapore Airlines has been contacted for comment.
Why it Matters
This case highlights the ongoing risks of severe turbulence, which experts warn is becoming more frequent due to climate change. For Linda Kitchen, the legal action represents not just a pursuit of compensation, but a quest for accountability and closure after losing her “soul mate” on what should have been the adventure of a lifetime. With mounting evidence linking clearer-air turbulence to rising atmospheric temperatures, airlines face increasing pressure to improve passenger safety measures and transparency around weather hazards.
