SINGAPORE: A 73-year-old British man who died after a Singapore Airlines (SIA) flight he was on encountered severe turbulence has been named as Mr Geoff Kitchen.
Tributes were paid to the retired grandfather on Wednesday (May 22), who was well-known in his local town of Thornbury, near Bristol in southwest England.
It is believed that he was on flight SQ321 with his wife, headed for what neighbours told reporters was the “holiday of a lifetime” that was due to last six weeks.
The plane had taken off from London's Heathrow Airport on Monday. It then "encountered sudden extreme turbulence" over Myanmar's Irrawaddy Basin, the airline said on Tuesday evening.
The Boeing 777-300ER, bound for Singapore, then diverted to Bangkok after turbulence flung passengers and crew around the cabin, slamming some into the ceiling.
His death was likely due to a heart attack, Suvarnabhumi Airport general manager Kittipong Kittikachorn told a press conference.
Mr Kitchen was remembered as an active part of his local musical theater group with a passion for his local community.
He ran for election in his town council last year as an independent candidate, with a focus on restoring the “creative heart” of the neighbourhood.
“Geoff was always a gentleman with the utmost honesty and integrity and always did what was right for the group,” said the Thornbury Musical Theatre Group in a Facebook post.
“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.”
According to The Guardian, Mr Kitchen and his wife were en route to Australia.
His wife is believed to be receiving medical attention in Bangkok, British media reported.
The interior of Singapore Airlines flight SQ321 is pictured after an emergency landing at Bangkok's Suvarnabhumi International Airport, Thailand on May 21, 2024. (Photos: Reuters/Handout, stringer)
The plane had been carrying 211 passengers and 18 crew members.
A total of 131 passengers and 12 crew members arrived in Singapore on a relief flight just after 5am on Wednesday.
Another 79 passengers and six crew members remained in Bangkok, including those receiving medical care. Most of the injured passengers on the flight suffered blows to the head.
British passenger Andrew Davies told BBC Radio 5 that the plane "suddenly dropped" and there was "very little warning".
"During the few seconds of the plane dropping, there was an awful screaming and what sounded like a thud," he said, adding that he helped a woman who was "screaming in agony" with a "gash on her head".
He described seeing people with head lacerations and bleeding ears: "I was covered in coffee. It was incredibly severe turbulence".
The interior of Singapore Airlines flight SQ321 is pictured after an emergency landing at Bangkok's Suvarnabhumi International Airport, Thailand on May 21, 2024. (Photo: Reuters/Handout)
The interior of Singapore Airlines flight SQ321 is pictured after an emergency landing at Bangkok's Suvarnabhumi International Airport, Thailand on May 21, 2024. (Photo: Reuters/Stringer)
Allison Barker told the BBC her son Josh, who was aboard the plane, texted her that he was on "a crazy flight" that was making an emergency landing.
"It was terrifying," she said. "I didn't know what was going on. We didn't know whether he'd survived, it was so nerve-wracking. It was the longest two hours of my life."
"We deeply apologise for the traumatic experience that our passengers and crew members suffered on this flight. We are providing all necessary assistance during this difficult time," Singapore Airlines said.
Of the passengers, 56 were Australians, 47 British and 41 Singaporeans.
Singapore's Transport Safety Investigation Bureau (TSIB), an arm of the Transport Ministry, is opening an investigation into what happened on SQ321.
It says it has been in contact with its Thai counterparts and will send investigators to Bangkok.
Singapore Airlines said that it is “fully cooperating” with the relevant authorities on the investigations.
Meanwhile, Boeing said it was "ready to support" Singapore Airlines.
"We extend our deepest condolences to the family who lost a loved one, and our thoughts are with the passengers and crew," Boeing said on social media platform X.
Additional reporting by John Bevir.
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Tributes were paid to the retired grandfather on Wednesday (May 22), who was well-known in his local town of Thornbury, near Bristol in southwest England.
It is believed that he was on flight SQ321 with his wife, headed for what neighbours told reporters was the “holiday of a lifetime” that was due to last six weeks.
The plane had taken off from London's Heathrow Airport on Monday. It then "encountered sudden extreme turbulence" over Myanmar's Irrawaddy Basin, the airline said on Tuesday evening.
The Boeing 777-300ER, bound for Singapore, then diverted to Bangkok after turbulence flung passengers and crew around the cabin, slamming some into the ceiling.
His death was likely due to a heart attack, Suvarnabhumi Airport general manager Kittipong Kittikachorn told a press conference.
Mr Kitchen was remembered as an active part of his local musical theater group with a passion for his local community.
He ran for election in his town council last year as an independent candidate, with a focus on restoring the “creative heart” of the neighbourhood.
“Geoff was always a gentleman with the utmost honesty and integrity and always did what was right for the group,” said the Thornbury Musical Theatre Group in a Facebook post.
“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.”
According to The Guardian, Mr Kitchen and his wife were en route to Australia.
His wife is believed to be receiving medical attention in Bangkok, British media reported.
The interior of Singapore Airlines flight SQ321 is pictured after an emergency landing at Bangkok's Suvarnabhumi International Airport, Thailand on May 21, 2024. (Photos: Reuters/Handout, stringer)
"SCREAMING IN AGONY"
The plane had been carrying 211 passengers and 18 crew members.
A total of 131 passengers and 12 crew members arrived in Singapore on a relief flight just after 5am on Wednesday.
Another 79 passengers and six crew members remained in Bangkok, including those receiving medical care. Most of the injured passengers on the flight suffered blows to the head.
British passenger Andrew Davies told BBC Radio 5 that the plane "suddenly dropped" and there was "very little warning".
"During the few seconds of the plane dropping, there was an awful screaming and what sounded like a thud," he said, adding that he helped a woman who was "screaming in agony" with a "gash on her head".
He described seeing people with head lacerations and bleeding ears: "I was covered in coffee. It was incredibly severe turbulence".
The interior of Singapore Airlines flight SQ321 is pictured after an emergency landing at Bangkok's Suvarnabhumi International Airport, Thailand on May 21, 2024. (Photo: Reuters/Handout)
The interior of Singapore Airlines flight SQ321 is pictured after an emergency landing at Bangkok's Suvarnabhumi International Airport, Thailand on May 21, 2024. (Photo: Reuters/Stringer)
Allison Barker told the BBC her son Josh, who was aboard the plane, texted her that he was on "a crazy flight" that was making an emergency landing.
"It was terrifying," she said. "I didn't know what was going on. We didn't know whether he'd survived, it was so nerve-wracking. It was the longest two hours of my life."
"We deeply apologise for the traumatic experience that our passengers and crew members suffered on this flight. We are providing all necessary assistance during this difficult time," Singapore Airlines said.
Of the passengers, 56 were Australians, 47 British and 41 Singaporeans.
Singapore's Transport Safety Investigation Bureau (TSIB), an arm of the Transport Ministry, is opening an investigation into what happened on SQ321.
It says it has been in contact with its Thai counterparts and will send investigators to Bangkok.
Singapore Airlines said that it is “fully cooperating” with the relevant authorities on the investigations.
Meanwhile, Boeing said it was "ready to support" Singapore Airlines.
"We extend our deepest condolences to the family who lost a loved one, and our thoughts are with the passengers and crew," Boeing said on social media platform X.
Additional reporting by John Bevir.
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