In brief
An Australian couple traveling from Melbourne to Doha on Qatar Airways experienced a traumatic ordeal when a deceased passenger's body was placed next to them. Amid their trip to Venice, Mitchell Ring and Jennifer Colin recounted the distressing moment when flight attendants moved a woman's corpse, wrapped in blankets, to a seat beside Mr. Ring for the remainder of the flight without providing him with a chance to relocate, despite the presence of empty seats.
Mitchell and Jennifer stated that the incident occurred after a woman collapsed in the aisle, leading to an immediate but unsuccessful attempt by the cabin crew to revive her. "Unfortunately, the lady couldn’t be saved, which was heartbreaking to witness," Mr. Ring shared with Channel Nine’s Current Affair. While Jennifer managed to shift to another seat, Mr. Ring was surprised that he wasn't given the same option. They expressed their disappointment that Qatar Airways did not proactively reach out for support after the distressing experience.Qatar Airways responded by issuing an apology for the distress caused, stating they are communicating with affected passengers and acknowledging that protocols should be in place for passenger care in such unusual situations. Mr. Ring highlighted that the cabin crew's rapid response was commendable, but added that there should be protocols for ensuring passenger welfare after such tragic events. Jennifer emphasized the need for proper support, suggesting that airlines should provide counselling after traumatic experiences on flights.Both passengers hope that their experience will lead to better policies to protect and assist travelers during emergencies in the future.
