British pensioner who died on plane which hit severe turbulence named

A pensioner who died on a flight which hit severe turbulence has been named. Geoffrey Ralph Kitchen is said to have passed away from a heart attack after being thrown from side to side on a Boeing 777 bound for Singapore.

The 73-year-old was traveling with his wife when the aircraft they were on was struck by treacherous conditions at 37,000ft above the Indian Ocean. The pilot was forced to make an emergency landing at Suvarnabhumi International Airport in Bangkok, Thailand, and emergency services swarmed the jet.

But The Mirror reports the Brit, believed to be from Thornbury, Gloucestershire, was pronounced dead on board. 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.

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.

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