Singapore Airlines passengers will receive $10,000 for injuries suffered during the turbulence that killed a 73-year-old Briton – with higher benefits for those who were more seriously injured

Singapore Airlines passengers will receive $10,000 in compensation for injuries sustained on a flight hit by extreme turbulence last month, killing a 73-year-old Briton.

Father-of-two Geoff Kitchen suffered a suspected heart attack on board flight SQ321, while several other passengers and crew from London suffered head, brain and spinal injuries during the terrifying high-altitude flight.

The pilots diverted the Singapore-bound Boeing 777-300ER, with 211 passengers and 18 crew on board, to Bangkok, where the injured were taken to hospitals.

Singapore Airlines (SIA) said in a statement on Tuesday that it had sent emails offering US$10,000 in compensation to passengers who suffered minor injuries in the incident. The airline plans to discuss higher payouts with passengers who suffered more serious injuries.

“For those who have suffered more serious injuries… we have invited them to discuss a compensation offer to meet each of their specific circumstances, where they feel well and are willing to do so,” the airline said.

The interior of Singapore Airlines Flight SQ321 is pictured after an emergency landing at Suvarnabhumi International Airport in Bangkok, Thailand, May 21, 2024

Geoff Kitchen, 73, suffered a suspected heart attack on board flight SQ321, while several other passengers and crew from London suffered skull, brain and spinal injuries during the terrifying high-altitude ordeal

Singapore Airlines passengers to receive $10,000 in compensation for injuries sustained on flight hit by extreme turbulence last month

“Passengers who are medically diagnosed with serious injuries, require long-term medical care and apply for financial assistance will be offered an advance of $25,000 to meet their immediate needs.

“This will be part of the final compensation these passengers will receive.”

In addition, the airline said it would refund the airfares of all passengers who were on board the plane, including those who were not injured.

“All passengers will also receive compensation for delays, in accordance with relevant European Union or United Kingdom regulations,” the report said.

On Tuesday, 11 passengers from the flight were still being treated in hospitals in Bangkok, an SIA spokesman told AFP.

Under the Montreal Convention, airlines are liable for damages resulting from injury or death of passengers during the flight.

“The amount of compensation will be determined based on the severity of each passenger’s injuries, based on the information provided to date by the relevant medical institutions,” the spokesperson said.

‘We recognise that passengers with more serious injuries may require further support tailored to their individual circumstances.’

SIA previously gave Sg$1,000 (£580) to each passenger departing from Bangkok to their final destination to cover their direct costs.

The company also covered the medical expenses of the injured passengers and arranged for their relatives to fly to Bangkok upon request.

“SIA remains committed to supporting affected passengers on board SQ321,” the airline said.

Singapore’s Ministry of Transport has said a sudden drop of 54 metres in altitude caused unbelted passengers on the flight to be thrown violently into the cabin.

The plane experienced a “rapid change” in gravity, or G-force, as it flew over southern Myanmar, the ministry said, citing a preliminary report from Singapore’s Transport Safety Investigation Bureau.

The investigation team consisted of experts from the TSIB, the US National Transportation Safety Board, the US Federal Aviation Administration and aircraft manufacturer Boeing.

After his death, it was revealed that Mr Kitchen had been raising money for local businesses with a local musical theater group during the pandemic. He and his wife spent the weekend with their grandchildren before heading off on the “trip of a lifetime.”

The retired insurance worker and his wife, from Thonbury, near Bristol, were heading abroad for the six-week holiday of a lifetime to South East Asia, Indonesia and Australia when disaster struck around 11am after their flight from Heathrow.

A friend of the couple told the BBC they “love to travel” and were “really excited” about the trip, which would see them cruise in Indonesia before traveling to Australia.

Lizzie Atkins also described him as ‘the most wonderful human being you could ever know’.

Mrs Atkins, a fellow member of the Bristol-based Thornbury musical theater group, said: ‘He would do anything for you. He was just great.’

Singapore’s Ministry of Transport has stated that a sudden drop of 54 meters (177 feet) in height caused unbelted passengers to be forcibly thrown into the cabin

In an interview with BBC Radio 4’s Today programme, she said: ‘He was a truly remarkable man.

‘He was steady and reliable, and you always knew you were in safe hands with Geoff.

“He had a very dry sense of humor and a twinkle in his eye. Every time you saw him, you knew he was going to make a funny joke.”

She added: ‘He was the most wonderful human being you could imagine, one of the best.’