Tributes to 'gentleman with utmost integrity' who died on Singapore Airlines flight from Heathrow

Tributes have been paid to the man who died on a Singapore Airlines flight from Heathrow on Tuesday, May 21. The 73-year-old man, who has been named as Geoff Kitchen, was a passenger on board the aircraft which saw severe turbulence leave several people injured, and Mr Kitchen dead.

Mr Kitchen suffered a suspected heart attack while on the flight, a spokesman for Bangkok’s Suvarnabhumi Airport, where the plane was diverted to has said. And now, friends and colleagues of Mr Kitchen have shared their sadness at the news of his death.

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.

READ MORE: Pensioner, 79, dies in hospital days after attack at his Newham home

“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.”

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. 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”.

'Suddenly the plane plunged'

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.

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.”

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