Tributes paid to British man, 73, who died after turbulence on Heathrow flight (2024)

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.

In a Facebook post shared on Tuesday evening,Thornbury Musical Theatre Group in Bristol said: “It is with a heavy heart that we learn of the devastating news of the passing of our esteemed colleague and friend Geoff Kitchen in the recent Singapore Air Incident.

“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.”

A Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO) spokesperson said it was supporting the family of the passenger and was in contact with local authorities.

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

Tributes paid to British man, 73, who died after turbulence on Heathrow flight (1)

One passenger on board Flight SQ321 to Singapore said the plane suffered a “dramatic drop”, meaning people not wearing a seatbelt were “launched immediately into the ceiling”.

Another passenger, Jerry, who was travelling to his son’s wedding, told the BBC the day was “the worst of my life”.

Speaking with a bandage covering part of his head, he said: “Things were going very smoothly at first. I’d just been to the loo, came back, sat down, bit of turbulence, and suddenly the plane plunged.

“I don’t know how far, but it was a long way. (It was) so sudden, there was no warning at all, and I ended up hitting my head on the ceiling, my wife did.

“Some poor people walking around ended up doing somersaults. It was absolutely terrible, and then suddenly it stopped and it was calm again, and the staff did their best to tend to the injured people.

“There were a lot of them and some of the staff are injured themselves, so they did a sterling job.”

Images posted on social media showed damage to the ceiling of the cabin, and food, cutlery and other debris strewn on the floor after the incident.

The 16-year-old Boeing 777 left Heathrow at 10.17pm on Monday and was diverted to Bangkok, landing at 3.45pm local time (9.45am BST) on Tuesday.

There were 211 passengers and 18 crew on board – including 47 passengers from the UK and four Irish nationals.

Singapore Airlines said: “Singapore Airlines flight SQ321, operating from London Heathrow to Singapore on May 20, encountered severe turbulence en route.

“We can confirm that there are injuries and one fatality on board.

“Singapore Airlines offers its deepest condolences to the family of the deceased.”

Singapore Airlines chief executive Goh Choon Phong said in a statement: “On behalf of Singapore Airlines, I would like to express my deepest condolences to the family and loved ones of the deceased passenger.

“We also deeply apologise for the trauma experienced by all passengers and crew members on this flight.

“We are providing all possible assistance and support to them, along with their families and loved ones, during this difficult time. The well-being of our passengers and staff is our utmost priority.”

Flightradar24 said its tracking data showed the plane encountering turbulence at approximately 8.49am BST while flying over Myanmar.

The flight tracking service said data sent from the aircraft showed a “rapid change in vertical rate, consistent with a sudden turbulence event”, adding that there were “some severe” thunderstorms in the area at the time.

Aviation consultant John Strickland told the PA news agency that “turbulence happens” but even with millions of flights each year, incidents are “limited” and “fatalities are rare”.

He said: “Exposure is greater in different parts of the world.

“The South Atlantic, Africa and the Bay of Bengal are all places that spring to mind where there’s a greater incidence.

“There are discussions about whether climate change is influencing an increase in occurrences.”

Mr Strickland said airlines use a variety of methods to minimise the chances of a flight being affected by turbulence, such as weather forecasts, radar and reports from aircraft ahead.

A spokesperson for the UK Civil Aviation Authority said: “Our deepest condolences go out to all those who have been affected.

“Accidents of this nature are extremely rare and aviation remains one of the safest forms of travel.”

Tributes paid to British man, 73, who died after turbulence on Heathrow flight (2024)

FAQs

How rare is severe turbulence? ›

Air turbulence injuries are rare, roughly 12 per year on US-based airlines. Severe and extreme turbulence are rare and disruptive, with abrupt changes in altitude. Larger aircraft experience less turbulence; small jets like Cessnas feel it more dramatically.

What causes turbulence on a Singapore flight? ›

Near the ground, strong winds around the airport can cause turbulence as planes take off or land. At higher altitudes, up- and downwards flows of air in storm clouds can cause mild to severe turbulence as planes fly through or near them.

Can turbulence bring down a plane? ›

Could turbulence bring down my flight? “The short answer is yes,” senior aviation consultant Adrian Young tells The Independent – but it's unlikely.

What's the worst turbulence can do? ›

Intense turbulence can force pilots to change altitude, cause flights to divert for emergency landings and send passengers to the hospital. In the most recent high-profile incident, during a flight from London to Singapore, one man died and dozens were taken to the hospital.

Why do planes turn off lights during turbulence? ›

Another important reason for turning off lights is passenger safety. During takeoff and landing, the risk of turbulence and other disturbances is higher than during flight at cruising altitude. If the aircraft experiences a sudden jolt, loose objects can move through the aircraft and cause injury.

Has a flight ever gone down because of turbulence? ›

Now, let's address the main concern – can turbulence cause a plane crash? While severe turbulence can cause minor injuries if you're not buckled in, like in the case of flight attendants walking through the cabin, turbulence alone has not been a direct cause of commercial airplane crashes in recent decades.

Why do planes suddenly drop during turbulence? ›

Turbulence, associated with thunderstorms, can be extremely hazardous, having the potential to cause overstressing of the aircraft or loss of control. Thunderstorm vertical currents may be strong enough to displace an aircraft up or down vertically as much as 2000 to 6000 feet.

How worried should I be about turbulence? ›

How rare are casualties? On international scheduled flights, fatalities directly caused by turbulence are rare. Pilots are usually able to give advance warning of most types of turbulence and ensure all on board are strapped in – the most important advice in minimising risk.

Do pilots avoid severe turbulence? ›

Pilots use a variety of methods to avoid turbulence, including using a weather radar display. Sometimes they can simply see and fly around thunderstorms. But clear-air turbulence “is altogether another animal,” according to Doug Moss, a former airline pilot and safety consultant.

What flight routes have the worst turbulence? ›

While the most turbulent flights of all connect Santiago in Chile to Santa Cruz in Bolivia, there are similarly bumpy rides across the world, according to the turbli database. Flights leaving Tokyo dominate the list of the roughest long-haul services.

How many people are afraid of turbulence? ›

Americans report turbulence (38.7%) and airport security (34.8%) as the most nerve-racking aspects of flying. A full 34.3% are anxious throughout the entire flight. Almost 60% of Americans who have never flown before have avoided taking a trip due to their fear of flying.

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