Qatar Airways refuses to admit fault in their handling of a grim in-flight situation that left an Australian couple sitting next to a deceased passenger for hours. What else could they have done?
At a Glance
- Qatar Airways defended its crew after a deceased passenger remained seated next to an Australian couple for approximately four hours
- The airline conducted an internal review and claimed crew acted “appropriately and professionally” following industry standards
- The incident occurred during a 15-hour flight from Melbourne to Doha when a female passenger suffered a fatal medical emergency
- The Australian couple, Mitchell Ring and Jennifer Colin, expressed dissatisfaction with the emotional support they received
- Qatar Airways says they’ve offered compensation and support to affected passengers while maintaining proper procedures were followed
Foreign Airline Defends Controversial Handling of Passenger Death
Qatar Airways is pushing back against criticism after an Australian couple was forced to sit next to a deceased passenger for four hours during a lengthy international flight. The Middle Eastern carrier insists their staff followed all proper procedures despite passengers’ complaints about the traumatic experience that has since made international headlines.
The incident occurred on a 15-hour journey from Melbourne to Doha when a female passenger suffered a fatal medical emergency. Rather than moving the couple to different seats, airline staff instructed them to remain in place as the deceased passenger was covered and secured in her seat for the remainder of the flight.
Following an internal investigation, Qatar Airways issued a statement defending their staff’s actions, noting that such unfortunate situations occasionally occur in aviation. The airline maintained that their crew handled the situation according to industry standards, with a staff member remaining with the deceased until landing.
“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,” Qatar Airways said.
The airline emphasized that the cabin crew “acted quickly, appropriately and professionally at all times” and followed established protocols for handling in-flight deaths. Despite Qatar Airways’ assurances that passengers were accommodated with seat changes where possible, the Australian couple’s account suggests they were not given adequate options.
Passengers Dispute Airline’s Account
Mitchell Ring and Jennifer Colin, the Australian couple at the center of this controversy, have publicly disputed Qatar Airways’ version of events. They claim they were forced to remain seated next to the deceased passenger for approximately four hours with minimal support, and were even instructed to stay in place as medical staff addressed the body upon landing.
“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,” Mitchell Ring said.
The couple has expressed particular dissatisfaction with the follow-up support provided by the airline, suggesting that Qatar Airways failed to check on their emotional wellbeing after such a traumatic experience. While the airline claims to have offered compensation and emotional support to those affected, Ring and Colin’s account tells a different story about the airline’s handling of the situation.
It might have technically been the “right” thing to do – or perhaps the only thing to do – but that doesn’t mean passengers should be expected to simply feel comfortable with it. Does it?
