- By Ajeet Kumar
- Sat, 01 Mar 2025 11:56 PM (IST)
- Source:JND
Qatar Airways issued a statement on Friday following an internal review of an incident in which a deceased passenger's body was placed next to an Australian couple on a flight from Melbourne to Doha. The airline concluded that its cabin crew acted "quickly, appropriately, and professionally" in managing the situation, NBC reported.
Mid-air horror
The couple, Mitchell Ring and Jennifer Colin, shared their experience with Australian media, explaining that after a woman collapsed and passed away around 10 hours into their 14-hour journey, they were forced to sit next to her body for the remainder of the flight.
Professional
In its statement, the airline acknowledged the rare occurrence of in-flight deaths and emphasised that its crew is rigorously trained to handle such situations with "respect and dignity". "It is unfortunate that unexpected deaths sometimes happen during flights, but our crew is trained to manage these events according to industry standards," the airline said.
Passengers offered alternative seats: Qatar Airways
Qatar Airways further clarified that other passengers were offered alternative seating, and a crew member stayed with the deceased passenger until the plane landed in Doha. The airline added that they had been in direct contact with the deceased passenger’s family and other affected passengers, offering emotional support and compensation.
However, the couple expressed dissatisfaction with the airline's handling of the situation. They claimed that after being placed next to the body, they were not allowed to change seats for the rest of the flight and were told to remain seated as medical staff handled the body upon landing. Ring and Colin felt the airline had failed to provide adequate support and follow-up, saying they should have been contacted for counselling or assistance after the traumatic experience.
In response, Qatar Airways confirmed that they had engaged with the affected passengers to address their concerns and reiterated their sympathy for all those involved in the incident. "Our thoughts remain with the family of the passenger who passed away on board," the airline concluded.
