An Australian couple has shared their harrowing experience aboard a Qatar Airways flight when the body of a deceased passenger was placed beside them. Mitchell Ring and Jennifer Colin were en route to Venice for a vacation when tragedy struck on their flight from Melbourne to Doha.
Passenger’s collapse and aftermath
During the flight, a woman collapsed in the aisle near the couple. Despite the rapid response from cabin crew, they were unable to save her. Following her passing, the crew made a controversial decision to place the woman’s body, which was covered with blankets, next to Mr. Ring for the remainder of the journey. This arrangement lasted for four hours, despite the presence of empty seats available elsewhere on the plane.
“We totally understand that we can’t hold the airline responsible for the poor lady’s death, but there has to be a protocol to look after the customers on board,”
Ms. Colin remarked on the distressing situation, expressing that there should be established protocols to support passengers in such tragic circumstances. Both passengers indicated that they had not received any support or outreach from Qatar Airways or Qantas, the airline through which they booked their tickets.
Call for passenger care protocols
Mr. Ring recounted the moment when the crew attempted to assist the woman, noting, “unfortunately the lady couldn’t be saved, which was pretty heart-breaking to watch.” He further explained that although there were available seats, he was not offered the opportunity to relocate to another area of the plane. While Ms. Colin managed to move to a nearby empty seat, Mr. Ring remained adjacent to the deceased passenger until the plane landed.
Upon landing, medical personnel and police boarded the aircraft to attend to the situation. Mr. Ring described the moment when ambulance officers began to uncover the woman’s body, revealing her face, which added to the emotional weight of the experience.
Both Mitchell and Jennifer emphasized the need for airlines to have a “duty of care” towards their passengers, advocating for follow-up support in the aftermath of such incidents. They suggested that airlines should proactively check in with affected passengers to offer assistance or counseling.
In a statement regarding the incident, Qatar Airways expressed their condolences to the family of the deceased passenger, acknowledging the distress caused and stating that they were in the process of contacting other passengers to address their needs.
Barry Eustance, a former captain with Virgin Atlantic, commented on the frequency of in-flight deaths, noting that protocols for handling such situations can vary widely. He expressed surprise at the crew’s decision not to relocate Mr. Ring, highlighting the importance of ensuring passenger comfort and privacy during such distressing events.
“In my experience, the crew would normally try to isolate the body, so there is no passenger exposure to the body and vice versa, for respect and privacy but also for medical reasons,” Mr. Eustance concluded.