Mr Kitchen, from Thornbury, near Bristol, was on a six-week holiday with his wife to Singapore, Indonesia and Australia. He was one of 211 passengers on the Singapore Airlines flight.
Tuesday 21 May 2024, 22:15, UK
The 73-year-old British man who died of a suspected heart attack after encountering “sudden severe turbulence” during a flight between London and Singapore has been named Geoff Kitchen.
Dozens more people were injured in the incident, with passengers saying people were “thrown into the ceiling and into overhead lockers.”
Singapore Airline flight SQ321, departing from Heathrow Airport, was forced to make an emergency landing at Bangkok Airport in Thailand.
Mr Kitchen, from Thornbury, near Bristol, was on a six-week holiday with his wife to Singapore, Indonesia and Australia.
Extreme turbulence occurs “suddenly''
Thornbury Musical Theater Group expressed their condolences in a post on Facebook, saying: “We are saddened by the shocking news of the passing of our esteemed colleague and friend Geoff Kitchen in the recent Singapore Airlines accident. It is with a heavy heart that I learned about this.
“Jeff has always been a gentleman with the utmost honesty and integrity and always did what was right for the group.
“His dedication to TMTG is unquestionable and he has served the group and the Thornbury community for over 35 years, holding various roles within the group including chairman, treasurer and most recently secretary.
“Our thoughts and prayers are with his wife and family during this difficult time. We ask that you respect their privacy.”
Kittipong Kittikachorn from Bangkok Airport said earlier that the 73-year-old man died of possible cardiac arrest.
The Boeing 777-300ER was carrying 211 passengers and 18 crew members, including 47 British nationals.
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Several other people besides the passengers were injured, but reports vary. A spokesperson for Samitivej Srinakarin Hospital said: “71 people required treatment, six of them with serious injuries.”
However, Singapore Airlines appears to contradict these numbers, saying only 30 people were taken to hospital.
Singapore Airlines also said the pilot declared a medical emergency and landed in Bangkok after experiencing “sudden extreme turbulence over the Irrawaddy Basin at 37,000 feet approximately 10 hours after departure.”
Britain's Foreign Office said in a statement that it was “liaising with local authorities.”
