Inquest Rules Turbulence Caused Fatal Cardiac Arrest on Singapore Airlines Flight
A British man died from cardiac arrest after a Singapore Airlines flight encountered severe turbulence, an inquest has determined.
A British passenger experienced a fatal cardiac arrest after being thrown from his seat during extreme turbulence on a Singapore Airlines flight, an inquest has revealed. Geoff Kitchen, 73, a retired insurance professional from Thornbury, south Gloucestershire, was traveling with his wife Linda from London Heathrow to Singapore when the Boeing 777 aircraft was hit by severe turbulence over southwestern Myanmar.
Incident Details
The flight, SQ321, was at 37,000 feet when it encountered the extreme turbulence at 7:49 a.m. on May 21, 2024. Mr. Kitchen, who had a history of coronary artery disease and had undergone stenting in 2019, was ejected from his seat and landed on another passenger. Fellow travelers administered cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) before the aircraft was diverted to Bangkok.
Aftermath and Conclusion
Upon landing in Bangkok, Mr. Kitchen was pronounced deceased. His wife, Linda, who sustained serious injuries including spinal fractures, was hospitalized. She was not informed of her husband's death until two days later. The incident resulted in 56 passengers suffering serious injuries and 23 others with minor injuries.
An inquest led by Dr. Peter Harrowing, assistant coroner for Avon, concluded that Mr. Kitchen died of cardiac failure, exacerbated by the physiological effects of the severe turbulence. A post-mortem examination in Bristol confirmed the cause of death as cardiac failure due to coronary atheroma and the effects of the turbulence.
Mrs. Kitchen described the terrifying moments when the aircraft suddenly plunged, trapping her beneath her husband. She recounted the efforts of other passengers to help her husband and the subsequent pain and bleeding she experienced. The couple had been embarking on a six-week holiday to Singapore, Indonesia, and Australia when the incident occurred.
Linda Kitchen, 74, has instructed lawyers to pursue High Court proceedings for damages against Singapore Airlines, describing her husband's death as a "crushing blow" and the loss of her "soulmate."