Qatar Airways Defends Crew's Response to Death on Flight, Amid Passenger Concerns

TDT | Manama

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Qatar Airways has responded to the traumatic experience faced by an Australian couple during a Melbourne to Doha flight, defending its crew’s actions in the aftermath of a woman’s death mid-flight. In a statement issued on Friday, the airline maintained that its crew acted “quickly, appropriately, and professionally” when they placed the deceased woman’s body next to the couple, acknowledging the distress the incident caused.

The airline's response came after the couple, Mitchell Ring and Jennifer Colin, shared their unsettling experience on Australia’s Channel Nine. The couple, who were traveling to Venice, recounted the disturbing scene when a woman collapsed and died beside them during the 14-hour flight. They explained that the body was covered with blankets and left next to Ring for the remaining hours of the journey.

Ring revealed that when the woman passed away, crew members initially attempted to move her body to the business class section, but were unable to do so due to the woman’s size and the narrowness of the aisle. They then asked Ring to vacate his seat, placing the deceased woman next to him. While Colin was offered a seat across the aisle, Ring pointed out that no alternative seating was provided for him, even though there were available seats.

In response, Qatar Airways emphasized that the crew’s actions were in line with their training and industry standards. “Passengers were accommodated to other seats, and a crew member sat with the deceased passenger for the remainder of the flight until landing in Doha,” the airline stated. "Unexpected deaths do occasionally occur on board, and our crew are highly trained to handle these situations with respect and dignity."

Despite the airline's defense, Colin expressed her concerns about the lack of support for the couple during the distressing situation. "We can't hold the airline responsible for the lady's death, but surely after that, there has to be a protocol to look after the customers on board," she said during her interview.

Upon landing in Doha, passengers were instructed to remain seated while medical personnel and police boarded to attend to the deceased. Ring described the moment when ambulance officers removed the blankets and exposed the woman’s face, which he found disturbing. He also expressed disbelief that passengers were not allowed to leave the plane first before the body was handled.

Aviation experts weighed in on the incident, with former Virgin Atlantic captain Barry Eustance stating that in such cases, it is standard procedure for the crew to isolate the body for privacy and respect, and to prevent exposure to other passengers. Guidelines set by the International Air Transport Association (IATA) also suggest that the deceased should be moved to a seat away from other passengers, covered with a blanket or body bag, and that passengers should disembark before the body is attended to by authorities.

Qatar Airways assured that support and compensation had been offered to the family of the deceased, as well as to the passengers directly affected by the incident, while reinforcing their commitment to maintaining high standards in passenger care.