In brief
An Australian couple, Mitchell Ring and Jennifer Colin, have shared their traumatic experience of having the body of a deceased passenger placed next to them on a Qatar Airways flight. The couple was traveling from Melbourne to Doha en route to Venice when a woman collapsed in the aisle. Despite efforts from the cabin crew to move her body, she was eventually positioned beside Mr. Ring for the last four hours of the flight, raising serious concerns about the airline's procedures and passenger care.
The ordeal began when the woman suddenly fell ill and could not be revived despite immediate attention from the crew. After attempting to transport her body towards the front of the plane, the crew, unable to move her due to limited space, placed her in an empty seat next to Mr. Ring. His wife, Ms. Colin, expressed disbelief at the decision to place the deceased passenger beside them, although she managed to relocate to a nearby seat.Upon landing, the couple recounted the unsettling experience of seeing ambulance personnel remove the blankets covering the deceased, specifically when passengers were instructed to remain seated, which added to their distress. They criticized both Qatar Airways and Qantas for failing to provide support after the incident, expressing a need for follow-up care and counseling given the emotional toll of the experience.In response to the incident, Qatar Airways extended its condolences to the family of the deceased and acknowledged the distress caused, stating they were reaching out to affected passengers. A spokesperson for Qantas reiterated that the incident was under the responsibility of Qatar Airways and outlined that operating protocols were followed.Both Ring and Colin emphasized the necessity for airlines to have proper protocols to manage such sensitive situations, highlighting the importance of passenger care during traumatic events.
