NewsBite

Wife of Singapore Airlines plane drop victim told husband dead while in intensive care

A heartbreaking detail has emerged after the death of a man in the plane drop tragedy aboard a Singapore Airlines flight on Sunday.

Airline passenger in ICU told her husband died

In the hours following the horrific Singapore Airlines plane drop, which left one man dead and up to 70 passengers and crew injured, a new tragic detail has emerged.

The wife of Geoff Kitchen, the British man who died from a suspected heart attack when the plane encountered the severe turbulence, was recovering in intensive care suffering from spinal injuries when she was told about her husband’s passing.

Linda Kitchen, a mum-of-two, was severely hurt in the mid-air catastrophe.

It is understood the couple from Thornbury, Gloucestershire, had set off on a trip of a lifetime when the accident happened on the Singapore Airlines Boeing 777-300ER.

The plane diverted to Bangkok where critically injured Mrs Kitchen was taken off along with up to 70 injured passengers and crew, according to The Sun.

She is in intensive care and was told on Wednesday morning that her husband of 51 years had died in the disaster.

Geoff Kitchen, 73, died on the Singapore Airlines flight hit by severe turbulence.
Geoff Kitchen, 73, died on the Singapore Airlines flight hit by severe turbulence.

The grandmother spoke to her son Stuart from her hospital bed.

A family friend said: “She was woozy with painkillers and she’s going for a second scan.

“She has spinal and shoulder injuries – I think she was unconscious when they got her off the plane.

“The tragic news was broken to her this morning. They were such a devoted couple, you can’t imagine what it must be like for her.”

The “adventurous” couple were on their way to a six-week holiday of a lifetime taking in Singapore, Japan, and Indonesia before heading to Australia.

Injured passengers were given numbers on their stretchers when they came off the plane because their names weren’t known.

Geoff and Linda’s family in the UK were unable to get information until the Thai authorities brought in translators to help worried family members of those caught up in the plane drama.

The couple’s children Stuart and Anna Proctor have remained in the UK but the close friend said there were plans for them to fly to Bangkok.

Video shows massive indent above passenger seat on horror Singapore flight
Flight SQ321 from London to Singapore experienced “sudden extreme turbulence”. Picture: X
Flight SQ321 from London to Singapore experienced “sudden extreme turbulence”. Picture: X
Blood splatters could be seen in pictures of the plane. Picture: X
Blood splatters could be seen in pictures of the plane. Picture: X
Video shows inside the Singapore flight smashed by horror turbulence

Geoff died as 18 others were sent to the hospital in neck braces and slings with some even being carried away on stretchers.

Flight SQ321 took off from London Heathrow shortly after 10pm on Monday with 211 passengers and 18 crew on board – including 56 Australians.

Nearly 11 hours into the 13-hour journey to Singapore, the packed jet was smashed by sudden “severe turbulence” while passengers were eating breakfast, officials said.

Shocking images showed food, drinks and cutlery strewn across the galley kitchens of the plane as it was violently thrown around.

Geoff, a keen amateur actor and former insurance worker, was described as “a really nice bloke” by his devastated friends.

Steve Dimond, who lives with wife Jill a few doors down from Geoff in a quiet leafy cul-de-sac said: “We are really upset. My wife is upstairs crying.

“He was a really nice guy. I last saw them on Sunday night and my wife saw them drive off on Monday.

“They were going on a big holiday to Singapore, Indonesia, Japan and Australia. They have a son and a daughter.”

Geoff had suffered heart problems in recent years and had stents put in to widen his arteries.

Boeing said: “We extend our deepest condolences to the family who lost a loved one and our thoughts are with the passengers and crew.”

- with The Sun

Add your comment to this story

To join the conversation, please Don't have an account? Register

Join the conversation, you are commenting as Logout

Original URL: https://www.news.com.au/travel/travel-updates/incidents/wife-of-singapore-airlines-plane-drop-victim-told-husband-dead-while-in-intensive-care/news-story/662508f6a1d64784e0ce682bdab450f5