A grandfather from the UK died due to heart failure triggered by the physical stress of severe turbulence on a Singapore Airlines flight, according to an inquest. Geoff Kitchen, a retired insurance professional from Thornbury near Bristol, was on a Boeing 777-300ER heading to Singapore when the plane experienced a sudden drop of 178 feet in under five seconds. The incident, likely caused by the plane encountering a rapidly growing cloud, resulted in 72 injuries, with 51 passengers seriously hurt, including his wife, Linda, who suffered spinal fractures. The couple was on a six-week trip across Singapore, Indonesia, and Australia. At an inquest held at Avon Coroners’ Court, Dr. Peter Harrowing presented evidence that Mr. Kitchen had undergone surgery in 2019 for a critical coronary artery blockage. However, a 2023 review found no current issues with his heart. Dr. Edward Stafford, the pathologist who performed the autopsy, noted that people with underlying coronary artery disease are at higher risk of sudden death during turbulence, as stress can trigger adrenaline release, which can strain the heart. Dr. Stafford concluded that Mr. Kitchen’s death was due to cardiac failure caused by coronary artery disease and the physiological stress of the turbulence. Dr. Harrowing explained that while individuals with coronary artery disease face an elevated risk of sudden cardiac death, the turbulence in this case was the direct cause of Mr. Kitchen’s cardiac arrest and death. Linda Kitchen described the moment of turbulence, saying she was watching a movie when the plane dropped suddenly, causing her severe back pain. She recalled Mr. Kitchen falling onto her lap, and two passengers helping to move him back into his seat. CPR was performed on her husband, but she was not informed of his death until later. A general practitioner was present but did not tell her of the outcome. An investigation by the Singapore Transport Safety Investigation Bureau concluded that the turbulence occurred over Myanmar, likely due to the plane encountering rising air from a fast-growing cloud. Dr. Harrowing confirmed that Mr. Kitchen’s death was a result of the turbulence-induced cardiac failure. Mr. Kitchen, a father of two and grandfather of four, was known for his involvement with the Thornbury Musical Theatre Group. His wife, Linda, is among several UK passengers who have filed legal claims against Singapore Airlines for personal injury. Others included Bradley Richards, Jack Jenkins, Hannah Fullerton, Andrew Dawood, Bryan Matthews, and Pauline and Michael Rainey.