A Kilkenny couple were among the four Irish people caught up in the turbulence emergency on a flight from London to Singapore this week. 

One received hospital treatment but both are now understood to have recovered and are continuing their trip. 

A man who died on board has been named as 73-year Geoff Kitchen from Bristol in England. 

The plane was forced to divert to Thailand after hitting an air pocket and dropping 2 kilometres in just three minutes. 

Singapore Airlines flight #SQ321, operating from London (Heathrow) to Singapore on 20 May 2024, encountered severe turbulence en-route. The aircraft diverted to Bangkok and landed at 1545hrs local time on 21 May 2024.

We can confirm that there are injuries and one fatality on…

— Singapore Airlines (@SingaporeAir) May 21, 2024

Yesterday, one passenger described the overall experience as “quite scary”. 

“I don’t think I’ll be flying again for a while,” he said. 

“Things were coming through the ceiling, water everywhere, people crying.” 

Singapore Airlines offered its condolences to the family of Mr Kitchen and promised to ‘fully cooperate’ with authorities investigating his death.

Main image: Singapore Airlines Airbus. Photo by: Etienne de Malglaive/ABACAPRESS.COM