Singapore Airlines flight live: Brit killed in turbulence named as Geoffrey Kitchen

A passenger has died and others were injured when a flight from Heathrow Airport encountered severe turbulence on its way to Singapore.

Singapore Airlines said the flight encountered “sudden extreme turbulence” over Myanmar’s Irrawaddy Basin at 37,000 feet about 10 hours after departure, with the pilot declaring a medical emergency and diverting the plane to Bangkok.

Experts have described turbulence as “common” and asserted that it “rarely” leads to fatalities, but what is it and how dangerous can it be?

Stephen Kitchen, Mr Kitchen’s first cousin, was due to meet him and Linda for lunch at the White Hart pub in Littleton-upon-Severn before they flew out for their holiday – but due to visa issues that needed sorting it was called off.

Stephen said he put “events together” after his wife was alerted to a news story on the tragedy by a relative.

Speaking from his home in Chepstow, Stephen said he had messaged Linda to ask her to get in touch when she could.

He said: “We were a bit shocked, I still am. I’m trying to touch base with Linda. I sent a message.

“They were looking forward to the holiday. They are travellers, they do quite a lot of these things, quite adventurous. It was sort of going to be their last big holiday. It would have been nice to see them before they went. It was a tour around Asia.

“Geoff was like myself and an only child, our fathers got on well, our families got on well. We were the end of another line but he’s got a son and daughter of course.”

Asked how he’d remember his first cousin, he said: “With fond memories, he is musical, I’m musical so we are musicals orientated but I know he was very popular in the Thornbury musical group, just a lovely guy.”

Tributes have been paid to a 73-year-old British man who died after severe turbulence on a Singapore Airlines flight from Heathrow Airport.

The passenger, named as Geoff Kitchen, suffered a suspected heart attack on the flight, according to a spokesman for Bangkok’s Suvarnabhumi Airport, where the plane was diverted to.

The spokesman added that seven other people were seriously injured, with dozens more suffering minor injuries.

“Geoff was always a gentleman with the utmost honesty and integrity and always did what was right for the group.

“His commitment to TMTG was unquestionable and he has served the group and the local community of

“Thornbury for over 35 years, holding various offices within the group, including Chairman, Treasurer and most recently Secretary.

“Our thoughts and prayers go out to his wife and the family at this difficult time, and we ask that you respect their privacy.”

Geoffrey Kitchen had recently worked hard campaigning for the reopening of the town’s Armstrong Hall, and he was much respected in the community.

He and his wife Linda had departed for a six week holiday when the tragedy happened, his neighbour Steve Dimond said.

They have a son who runs a window cleaning business in Thornbury and a daughter. Mr Dimond, who knew Mr Kitchen for around 11 years, said his wife broke the news to his son before police arrived.

He said: “We are worried about his wife Linda because she is in hospital undergoing surgery. We don’t know how serious that is.”

Asked about Mr Kitchen, he said: “A really nice bloke, loved live music and the theatre. I can remember him dressed as a sultan in the panto this year, funny, good singer, a nice bloke. Very sociable.”

Geoffrey Kitchen was a retired insurance professional who devoted much of his time to Thornbury Musical Theatre, where he had been director since 2020.

Only last week he had been helping preparations for the group’s upcoming show, Journey Back To The Future, which neighbour and co-member Steve Dimond told The Independent would be dedicated to him.

Speaking from his home a few doors down from Mr Kitchen’s three-bedroom home in a cul-de-sac in Thornbury, just outside Bristol, Mr Dimond said: “We will continue with the next show which will likely be done in his name.

“I’m really shocked, he’ll be badly missed. He was a kind man who in recent years, after retirement, had loved the musical theatre.”

A passenger on the Singapore Airlines flight which was hit by severe turbulence has told of “awful screaming” on the plane.

Another said everyone not wearing a seatbelt was “launched immediately into the ceiling” when the turbulence occurred.

A British passenger died and many other people were injured when the flight from Heathrow encountered severe turbulence.

The US National Transportation Safety Board said on Tuesday it will send an accredited representative and four technical advisors to support Singapore’s investigation into a severe turbulence incident on Singapore Airlines Flight 321.

Under an international aviation treaty, the NTSB can take part as a representative since the plane was built by Boeing . The investigation will be led by the Singapore Transport Safety Investigation Bureau.

Four Irish people were on board a Singapore Airlines flight from London in which one person died and many others were injured when the plane hit severe turbulence.

The Department of Foreign Affairs has confirmed that four Irish citizens were on the flight, but it is not yet known whether they were among the many injured people.

A department spokeswoman said: “We are aware that four Irish citizens were on board.

“The Embassy is in close contact with the relevant Thai authorities and stands ready to provide all appropriate consular assistance.”