A British man died on a Singapore Airlines flight experiencing severe turbulence while en route to a vacation with his wife. Geoffrey Kitchen, 73, a retired insurance professional and musical theater director from Thornbury, near Bristol, is suspected to have suffered a heart attack during the incident.
The flight, SQ321, was headed to Australia with stops planned in Japan and Indonesia, when it encountered turbulence about ten hours after departing from London. The event resulted in numerous injuries among passengers and crew.
Mr. Kitchen’s daughter, Anna Proctor, told The Telegraph, “He was an extremely kind, loving, and gentle man. We are completely devastated. He had years ahead of him and was a legend.”
His cousin, Stephen Kitchen, described the trip as their “last big holiday,” noting their adventurous spirit. “It was going to be their last big holiday. It would have been nice to see them before they went,” he told The Independent.
The late Mr. Kitchen had been a prominent figure in the local musical theater scene, founding the Thornbury Musical Theatre Group and dedicating over 35 years to its development. The group expressed their sorrow on Facebook, calling him a gentleman of “utmost honesty and integrity.”
Steve Dimond, a neighbor and fellow theatre group member, remembered Mr. Kitchen’s recent involvement in theater productions and his passion for the performing arts. “We will continue with the next show, which will likely be done in his name,” he stated.
