'Acted Appropriately': Qatar Airways Defends Crew That Left Dead Body Next To Couple On 14-Hour Flight

In a statement, the airline stated that it found in an internal review that the manner in which the crew handled the woman's death was "in line with the training and industry standard practice."

Qatar Airways has defended its crew that left a dead body next to an Australian couple on a 14-hour flight from Melbourne to Doha.

Source : PTI Images

Qatar Airways has defended its crew's decision to leave a couple sitting next to a dead passenger on a 14-hour flight, inisting that they "acted quickly, appropriately and professionally".

The issue was addressed by the airline after the couple, Mitchell Ring and Jennifer Colin, told Australia's Channel Nine about their ordeal and how the incident left them traumatised as they were forced to sit next to a dead body for almost four hours of the 14-hour flight. A female passenger on the same flight had suffered a fatal medical emergency, following which she passed away on the long-haul flight from Melbourne in Australia to Doha, Qatar.

In a statement to the BBC, the airline stated that it found in an internal review that the manner in which the crew handled the woman's death was "in line with the training and industry standard practice."

It also said that they have offered compensation and support to the family of the deceased and other passengers as well who were "directly affected" by the incident.

"Passengers were accommodated to other seats, and a crew member was sitting at all times with the deceased passenger for the duration of the flight until landing in Doha," Qatar Airways told BBC. 

"It is an unfortunate reality that unexpected deaths do sometimes occur on board aircraft across the aviation industry and our crew are highly trained to deal with these situations with as much respect and dignity as possible," the statement added. 

What Happened On The Qatar Airways Flight

Speaking to the Australian outlet, Ring recalled that the airline crew had asked him to move over before placing the lady in the seat he was sitting in previously. He further claimed he was not asked to move anywhere else despite vacant seats in the plane. His wife was however invited by another passenger to sit beside her across the aisle.

"We totally understand that we can't hold the airline responsible for the poor lady's death, but surely after that there has to be a protocol to look after the customers on board," Colin said. 

He then told the outlet that the passengers were not allowed to leave at once after the plane landed, but were asked to stay put while medical staff and police came on board.

The blankets in which the dead body of the woman was covered were pulled off by the ambulance officers and it was then that he saw her face, he recalled.

"I can't believe they told us to stay," he said, adding that the passengers should have been allowed to leave before medical staff arrived.

Expressing frustration at Qatar Airways for not offering support, Ring said: "They have a duty of care towards their customers as well as their staff. We should be contacted to make sure, do you need some support, do you need some counseling?" 

In a previous statement, Qatar Airways issued an apology for "any inconvenience or distress this incident may have caused". "First and foremost our thoughts are with the family of the passenger who sadly passed away on board our flight," it said.