Linda Kitchen Sues Singapore Airlines Over Fatal Turbulence

British citizen Linda Kitchen has initiated proceedings in the High Court against Singapore Airlines seeking damages for serious spinal injuries and the death of her husband. The lawsuit stems from a May 21, 2024, incident on Flight SQ321 from London Heathrow to Singapore. While flying over Myanmar, the aircraft encountered severe turbulence, causing it to plunge 54 meters in five seconds—with some reports describing a drop of approximately 6,000 feet—before making an emergency landing at Suvarnabhumi Airport in Bangkok, Thailand.

The turbulence resulted in 79 injuries and the death of 73-year-old Geoffrey Kitchen, who suffered a fatal heart attack. Linda Kitchen, 74, suffered a broken back and remained hospitalized in Thailand for 10 days before being airlifted to Bristol, UK, where she required further hospital care and home assistance. Through her lawyer, Anthe Korelidou, Kitchen is seeking damages to fund specialist support and a thorough investigation into whether the injuries could have been prevented.

Singapore's Transport Safety Investigation Bureau found that storm clouds undetected by the aircraft's weather radar likely caused the event, though it remained inconclusive if the radar had technical faults. Singapore Airlines previously offered compensation of US$10,000 for minor injuries and US$25,000 for serious injuries, along with airfare refunds. While the airline declined to comment on the active court case, it stated in July 2024 that it had adopted a more cautious approach to managing in-flight turbulence.