A 73-year-old British man who was killed on a flight from London to Singapore was on his ‘last big holiday’ with his wife who remains in hospital.
Grandfather Geoffrey Kitchen is believed to have suffered a heart attack when the Singapore Airlines flight plunged 7,000ft in just six minutes after hitting severe turbulence.
The aircraft, which was carrying 229 people, fell from 38,000ft to 31,000ft over the west coast of Burma, sending passengers hurling into ‘somersaults’ as they hit the plane’s ceiling.
Mr Kitchen, from Thornbury, Gloucestershire was pronounced dead at the scene after the plane made an emergency landing in Thailand.
The condition of his wife Linda is unknown, but she is currently hospitalized.
A total of 71 passengers were taken to hospital, seven of whom were in critical condition.
The couple spent the weekend with their grandchildren before embarking on a six-week “trip of a lifetime” to Southeast Asia, Indonesia and Australia.
But passengers said they received little warning to fasten their seatbelts when the plane suddenly crashed 11 hours into a 13-hour flight after takeoff from Heathrow.
Passenger Jerry, who was on his way to his son’s wedding, told the BBC it was the “worst day of my life”.
“At first, everything was going very well. I just went to the toilet, came back and sat down, and then all of a sudden the plane crashed.”
“I don’t know how long it was, but it was a long time.” It was so sudden that, without any warning, I hit my head on the ceiling, as did my wife.
“Some of the poor people who were running around did somersaults. “It was a really bad situation, but suddenly it stopped and it was quiet again. Staff were doing their best to treat the injured.”
The Boeing 777-300ER was headed for Bangkok, where an ambulance was waiting. had to be changed.
Mr Kitchen’s neighbor Steve Dymond, 73, told the Mirror:
“They were very adventurous and had been planning their vacation for a long time.” They haven’t been able to see their grandchildren for a while, so they spent last weekend with them.
“He was very healthy and active. He was active in amateur theater and helped me design sets for new productions.”
“He was a good singer. He was a good actor, he was a committee member, and he loved musicals. He and his wife loved all kinds of live music, folk jazz and everything.” According to a 28-year-old student on board, the passengers were suddenly thrown upwards, enough to cave in the ceiling.
He said: “There was a sudden and very dramatic impact, and anyone who was seated and was not wearing a seatbelt was immediately thrown to the ceiling.” Passengers were left with a pool of blood on the cabin floor. ” he said.
Josh told the Times: “Water everywhere, blood everywhere, people’s belongings scattered all over the plane.” They hit where the lights and masks were and broke through.
Images show trash strewn across the floor and oxygen masks hanging from the ceiling.
Passenger Andrew Davies said he helped administer CPR on one passenger.
He told The Times: ‘It felt like an instant between the sign coming on and the drop.
‘During the few seconds of the plane dropping there was an awful screaming and what sounded like a thud.
‘There was a poor lady with an awful deep gash on her head and a man who wasn’t looking responsive at all. Everywhere you looked there was another injury.
‘Very quickly a call went out for people who were medically trained to help. I assisted in getting the passenger onto the floor so they could do CPR.’
A friend of Mr Kitchen paid tribute to ‘the most wonderful human being that you could ever know’.
She told the BBC’s Today programme: ‘I just can’t believe that I’m having to do this, he was the most wonderful human being that you could ever know, really one of the top ones – he was stable and reliable and you always knew you were in safe hands with Geoff, he was just a remarkable man, really.
‘He had a really dry sense of humour and he hand a twinkle in his eye, every time you saw him you just knew he was going to make a funny joke.’
Kittipong Kittikachorn, the general manager of Suvarnabhumi Airport in Bangkok, said most people suffered injuries to their heads.
He said: ‘The wife of the deceased passenger is at the hospital now.
‘Lots of passengers couldn’t walk and had to be rescued from the aircraft.
“Some people with minor injuries have already been discharged and are ready to return to Singapore.”
Mr Kitikakorn added that the passengers were fastening their seatbelts when the turbulence hit.
Singapore Airlines said, “Singapore Airlines Flight SQ321, which was flying from London (Heathrow Airport) to Singapore on May 20, 2024, encountered severe turbulence en route. There are one injured person and one fatality. I have confirmed that.”
“Singapore Airlines would like to express its deepest condolences to the families of the deceased.”
“We are working with local authorities in Thailand to provide the necessary medical assistance and are sending a team to Bangkok to provide additional support if needed.”
The aircraft, registration number 9V-SWM, plummeted from 38,000 feet to 31,000 feet above Main Madaung on Burma’s west coast, according to flight tracker Flightradar24.
There were a total of 211 passengers and 18 crew members on board.
The aircraft landed at 3:45 pm local time (8 am Japan time).
Singapore’s Transport Minister Chee Hong Tat said, I am deeply saddened to learn of the accident on Singapore Airlines flight SQ321 from London Heathrow to Singapore,” andmy deepest condolences to the families of the deceased.” I would like to express my sincere gratitude to you.”
