An Australian couple has criticized an airline after they were seated next to a blanket-covered corpse during a 14-hour flight from Melbourne to Doha last week.
Mitchell Ring recounted that a fellow passenger passed away mid-flight, and the crew initially attempted to move the body toward business class. However, due to the passenger’s size, they were unable to navigate the narrow aisle.
“They looked a bit frustrated, then they just looked at me and saw seats were available beside me,” Ring told Nine News.
Despite the distressing situation, Ring said he remained next to the deceased passenger even after the plane landed.
“The ambulance officers and police came in and started pulling the blankets off the lady. It wasn’t nice,” he said.
A Disturbing Experience Mid-Flight
Ring and his wife, Jennifer Colin, were en route to Venice when the incident occurred. Colin, an anxious flier, said the experience was deeply unsettling.
“I’m not a great flier at the best of times,” she said. “There has to be a protocol that looks after the customers on board.”
Ring estimated that he remained next to the body for approximately four hours, despite the presence of other empty seats on the plane.
“They said, ‘Can you move over please?’ and I just said, ‘Yes, no problem.’ Then they placed the lady in the chair I was in. There were a few spare seats around that I could see.”
Airline Issues Apology
In response, the airline issued a statement apologizing for any distress or inconvenience caused by the incident.
“First and foremost, our thoughts are with the family of the passenger who sadly passed away on board our flight,” the statement read.
The incident has sparked discussions about airline protocols for handling medical emergencies and deceased passengers on long-haul flights.
