An airline traveler recently shared a shocking experience after being seated next to the body of a fellow passenger who had passed away during a Qatar Airways flight from Melbourne to Doha. The incident unfolded when a female passenger collapsed in the aisle, leading to the crew's attempts to revive her, unfortunately without success.
The Australian couple, Mitchell Ring and Jennifer Colin, who were en route to Venice for a vacation, witnessed the crew's efforts to assist the passenger. Despite their best attempts, the crew faced challenges in moving the body to another section of the plane due to the narrow aisle.
As a result, Mitchell Ring was asked to move to accommodate the deceased passenger in his seat for the remainder of the flight, which lasted approximately four hours. Although there were other vacant seats available, Ring found himself seated next to the body while another passenger offered Jennifer Colin a seat across the aisle.
Colin described the experience as traumatic and expressed shock at the situation. While acknowledging that the airline could not be held responsible for the passenger's death, she emphasized the need for protocols to support passengers in such distressing circumstances.
Upon landing, passengers in the vicinity were instructed to remain seated until emergency responders arrived to handle the situation. The couple expressed surprise at the lack of immediate contact from the airline and highlighted the importance of receiving proper care and support following the incident.
Qantas Airways, the ticketing airline for the couple, stated that they were in communication with Colin and had reached out to Qatar Airways, the operating airline for the flight. They clarified that the handling of such incidents falls under the responsibility of the operating airline.
In the aftermath of the incident, Ring and Colin are grappling with the emotional impact of the tragedy. Ring expressed a need for support and counseling to process the experience and ensure his well-being.
This unfortunate incident serves as a reminder of the unexpected challenges that can arise during air travel and the importance of having appropriate protocols in place to address such situations with sensitivity and care.
