An Australian couple has expressed significant distress following an incident on a Qatar Airways flight from Melbourne to Doha, where the body of a deceased passenger was placed adjacent to one of them for a substantial portion of the journey.
Mitchell Ring and Jennifer Colin, en route to a European vacation, recounted to Australia’s Channel 9 the “traumatic” experience of witnessing the woman’s death and subsequently having her body positioned next to Mr. Ring. Â
The couple alleges that despite the availability of vacant seating, cabin crew did not offer to relocate Mr. Ring during the remaining four hours of the flight. Qatar Airways has issued an apology for the “inconvenience or distress” caused and has since engaged with both the affected passengers and the deceased woman’s family to address their concerns.
Mr. Ring described the rapid response of the cabin crew when the woman collapsed, but noted the unsuccessful attempt to move her body to business class due to her size. He stated that crew members, aware of the available seats, requested he move over, subsequently placing the deceased in his vacated seat.
While Ms. Colin was able to relocate, Mr. Ring was not afforded the same opportunity. Upon landing, passengers were held on board while medical personnel and police attended, during which time the deceased’s body was exposed.
The couple emphasized the need for a comprehensive “duty of care” for passengers and staff, advocating for post-incident support and counseling. Ms. Colin highlighted the lack of established protocols for handling such situations, acknowledging the unavoidable nature of the death but questioning the handling of the aftermath.
Qatar Airways, in a subsequent statement, reiterated their commitment to passenger safety and comfort, confirming they had contacted both families involved.
A Qantas spokesperson clarified that incident management onboard is the responsibility of the operating carrier, in this case, Qatar Airways.
Aviation expert and former Virgin Atlantic captain, Barry Eustance, acknowledged the relatively frequent occurrence of in-flight deaths, but pointed out the absence of standardized protocols. He noted the logistical challenges of handling deceased passengers on long-haul flights, citing limitations in storage and crew rest area access.
Mr. Eustance expressed surprise at the crew’s decision not to relocate Mr. Ring, given the available seating, and stressed the importance of isolating deceased individuals for respect, privacy, and medical reasons. He highlighted the potential for passenger trauma and the associated liabilities arising from such incidents.
