Couple Traumatised After Body Placed Beside Them on Flight

An Australian couple, Mitchell Ring and Jennifer Colin, experienced a “traumatic” incident on a Qatar Airways flight from Melbourne to Doha. A woman died mid-flight, and the crew placed her body, covered in blankets, next to Mr. Ring for four hours, despite empty seats being available.

The couple criticised the airline for lack of support and for not moving Mr. Ring. Initially, they said neither Qatar Airways nor Qantas contacted them. Qatar Airways later apologised and said they had spoken to the couple and the deceased’s family.

Mr. Ring described the crew’s failed attempts to move the body to business class due to its size. While Ms. Colin moved, he was left beside the deceased. Upon landing, he witnessed the removal of the blankets, seeing the woman’s face.

The couple emphasised the need for a “duty of care” and a protocol for such events, citing the trauma they endured. Qatar Airways expressed condolences and apologized, while Qantas stated that handling onboard incidents is the operating airline’s responsibility.

Aviation expert Barry Eustance noted the frequency of in-flight deaths and the lack of a standard protocol, expressing surprise that Mr. Ring wasn’t moved, given the potential for trauma and the need for respectful handling of the deceased.

#continentsurfer #australia #qatarairways #travel #qantas #deadontheplane

Want to know more?