A Melbourne couple, Mitch and Jenny, are still trying to come to terms with a distressing experience they had on a Qatar Airways flight from Melbourne to Doha.
The couple was forced to sit next to the body of a passenger who had passed away midflight, despite there being empty seats available on the plane.
The Incident Unfolds
The incident began when a woman collapsed in the aisle beside them and couldn’t be revived. The airline staff responded quickly and tried to save her, but unfortunately, she couldn’t be saved.
Mitch praised the staff for their efforts, saying, “The staff were there in no time, and I pat them on the back, they did a wonderful job trying to revive her.”
A Traumatising Experience
After the woman passed away, the staff attempted to move her to business class using a two-wheeled chair, but were unable to do so.
Instead, they asked Mitch to move over, and they placed the deceased passenger in the chair that he was in. This experience was deeply traumatising for the couple, with Jenny breaking down in tears during an interview, describing the experience as “traumatising”.
Protocol Not Followed
According to the International Air Transport Association’s protocol, a person who has died midflight should be moved to a seat in an empty row, or if the flight is fully booked, returned to their assigned seat.
The deceased should be covered with a blanket as a mark of dignity and respect. However, Mitch and Jenny claim that this protocol was not followed, and they were not offered to relocate to another seat for the remaining four hours of their journey.
A Distressing Aftermath
The experience was made even more distressing when emergency services boarded the aircraft upon landing, and the blankets covering the deceased passenger’s body were removed before the cabin had been cleared of all other passengers.
Mitch recounted, “They told us in our area to stay in our seats, and then the ambulance officers and the police came in, and then the ambulance officers started pulling the blankets off… I was there and I got to see her face. Yeah, it wasn’t nice.”
Qatar Airways’ Response
Qatar Airways has issued a statement apologising for any inconvenience or distress caused and is investigating the matter.
A spokesperson said, “First and foremost our thoughts are with the family of the passenger who sadly passed away on board our flight…
We apologise for any inconvenience or distress this incident may have caused, and are in the process of contacting passengers in line with our policies and procedures.”
This horrific incident has raised questions about the protocol for handling deceased passengers on flights and the need for airlines to prioritize the dignity and respect of the deceased, as well as the well-being of other passengers on board.