The Brit who died following a heart attack after the Boeing 777 in which he was travelling experienced severe turbulence has been named.
Geoffrey Ralph Kitchen, 73, is believed to have been hurled from side-to-side when the plane was struck by treacherous conditions at 37,000ft above the Indian Ocean. The plane, bound for Singapore, had to make an emergency landing at Suvarnabhumi International Airport in Bangkok, Thailand.
Images taken there show emergency services swarm the jet but Mr Kitchen, believed to be from Thornbury, Gloucestershire, was pronounced dead. Mr Kitchen, who ran the Thornbury Musical Theatre Group, has been moved to a police hospital for a post-mortem examination. The pensioner's wife, who was also injured in the horror turbulence, is being treated at hospital. Six people who were on board are in a critical condition in hospital.
Geoff was flying with his wife to Singapore on the first leg of a six-week “holiday of a lifetime” to South East Asia and Australia.
It is understood Geoff had suffered heart problems in recent years. Neighbour and close friend Steve Dimond, also 73, said: “It’s a terrible shock, he was a really nice bloke. They were a lovely couple. They were very adventurous and had been planning the holiday for a long time.
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The interior of Singapore Airline flight after the emergency landing (REUTERS)“They spent last weekend with their grandchildren because they wouldn’t be seeing them for a while. He was very fit and active. He was very involved with amateur dramatics and was helping me make scenery for our new production."
The jet had left London Heathrow last night destined for Singapore Changi Airport but it experienced the severe turbulence while entering airspace in the region, which is currently experiencing extreme tropical thunderstorms. Images show terrified passengers and food and debris strewn on the floor of the aircraft following the disruption. An air stewardess is also pictured with a bloodied wound to her face amid the chaos.
The general manager of Bangkok's Suvarnabhumi Airport said the 73-year-old British man may have suffered a heart attack on board. There were 211 passengers and 18 crew on board - including 47 passengers from the UK. 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."
In an update published on social media on Tuesday afternoon, Singapore Airlines said: "The nationalities of the passengers are as follows: 56 from Australia, two from Canada, one from Germany, three from India, two from Indonesia, one from Iceland, four from Ireland, one from Israel, 16 from Malaysia, two from Myanmar, 23 from New Zealand, five from the Philippines, 41 from Singapore, one from South Korea, two from Spain, 47 from the United Kingdom, and four from the United States of America."
An ambulance waits to transport passengers from the plane to hospital (AP)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.
A passenger from London, who gave his name as Andrew, told BBC Radio 5 Live the seat belt sign came on, he followed the instruction, and "at that very moment, the plane suddenly dropped". He said: "The thing I remember the most is seeing objects and things flying through the air. I was covered in coffee. It was incredibly severe turbulence." He heard "awful screaming" as the plane was dropping, and what "sounded like a thud".
A spokesperson for the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office said: "We are responding to the emergency landing in Bangkok of a Singapore Airlines flight and are in contact with the local authorities."
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