Passenger Sat by Deceased Woman: Qatar Airways Offers Support

[snoop1130]

Picture courtesy of Saif Zaman ( আয়ান ), Unhsplash

 

In a distressing turn of events, a passenger was seated next to a deceased woman for four hours during a Qatar Airways flight from Melbourne to Doha. The incident, unveiled by an Australian couple's report to their local TV station, criticised the airline's handling of the situation.

 

According to the couple, the unforeseen event became their "worst experience," leading to widespread media attention. In response, Qatar Airways released a statement underscoring their sincere condolences to those impacted and affirmed their support for the deceased's family.

 

 

The airline clarified that the crew acted with due diligence, providing alternative seating for other passengers and maintaining professional conduct. Qatar Airways assured that their staff are thoroughly trained for such emergencies, aiming to manage them respectfully.

 

A comprehensive internal investigation corroborated that the crew adhered to industry standards, prioritising safety and dignity. Communicating compassionately, Qatar Airways is extending compensation and psychological aid to those affected, reinforcing their commitment to passenger welfare amidst unforeseen challenges, reported The Thaiger.

 

-- 2025-03-03

 

 

[JoePai]

Should be a hatch in the back of planes they can open and drop dead bodies out of   🤣

[Nickcage49]

They should put the deceased in a restroom and shut the door for the remainder of the flight. Who wants to sit next to a corpse?

[proton]

Nothing would surprise me about Qatar, terrible airline.

[Grumpy one]

51 minutes ago, Nickcage49 said:

They should put the deceased in a restroom and shut the door for the remainder of the flight. Who wants to sit next to a corpse?

Someone who likes a one-sided conversation   

[proton]

53 minutes ago, Nickcage49 said:

They should put the deceased in a restroom and shut the door for the remainder of the flight. Who wants to sit next to a corpse?

 

Necrophiliacs ?

[black tabby12345]

Flight of the Sitting Dead...

 

 

[Nick Carter icp]

2 hours ago, Nickcage49 said:

They should put the deceased in a restroom and shut the door for the remainder of the flight. Who wants to sit next to a corpse?

 

   Look at the positives, you get the arm rest to yourself and you wouldn't need to stand up if they want to use the toilet .

[Peterphuket]

One of many reasons never to fly with that airline.

[Harrisfan]

2 hours ago, Nickcage49 said:

They should put the deceased in a restroom and shut the door for the remainder of the flight. Who wants to sit next to a corpse?

Ask Biden's wife

[Harrisfan]

4 minutes ago, Nick Carter icp said:

 

   Look at the positives, you get the arm rest to yourself and you wouldn't need to stand up if they want to use the toilet .

The airline will probably give them a free flight to shut them up

[lordgrinz]

Weekend at Bernies in the sky?

[HK MacPhooey]

2 hours ago, Nickcage49 said:

They should put the deceased in a restroom and shut the door for the remainder of the flight. Who wants to sit next to a corpse?

No restrooms, bathrooms, comfort rooms, washrooms or even toilets on commercial aircraft - they are lavatories but normal procedure used to be to remove dead bodies to a lavatory and lock it out but as there are no seat belts in lavatories they are often left in their seat covered with a blanket  

[KhunBENQ]

The whole excitement is about the four hours without reseating.

Otherwise I don't see what they can do.

Agree with the post above.

Don't think it's a good idea to create attention by towing a corpse along the aisle through the plane. Body bag on board?

[Peterphuket]

It must not have been a Thai who had to sit next to that dead person, he would have been traumatised for the rest of his Life with all those ghosts.
😂

[Thingamabob]

Order of preference, first, sit alone, second, sit next to a corpse, third, sit next to a living person.

[rough diamond]

1 hour ago, Nick Carter icp said:

 

   Look at the positives, you get the arm rest to yourself and you wouldn't need to stand up if they want to use the toilet .

And their food tray if you are really hungry.

[Peterphuket]

1 minute ago, rough diamond said:

And their food tray if you are really hungry.

Don't forget to mention Halal food, very important.

[mikeymike100]

It's no just Qatar Airlines that do it, most airlines have a similar 'policy'.

If seats are empty, the body goes there—covered, belted, ideally out of sight. British Airways’ 2021 crew guidance (leaked via a FOI request) says “use a row of seats if available, preferably rear or premium cabin for privacy.” Delta’s similar—per a 2022 employee forum post, it’s “least disruptive placement,” often first class if vacant. Singapore Airlines, post a 2023 incident, reportedly favors galley areas or empty rows, per staff accounts on X. No-seats scenario? Galley corners, locked lavatories, or last-resort “leave in place” with blankets—Qantas and United have both done this, per 2020 and 2024 passenger reports. Most train crews for this in basic first-aid courses—American Airlines’ 2023 manual, cited in a lawsuit, includes a “deceased passenger” checklist: confirm, move, cover, report.

[hotchilli]

20 hours ago, JoePai said:

Should be a hatch in the back of planes they can open and drop dead bodies out of   🤣

And if it was one of your family?

[Paul Henry]

I have been on two flights where someone has died (both men).The staff have left the body in the seat and attached it with two very large safety pins through the shoulders of the clothing on the body into the seat upholstry and then covered the body with a blanket. Near by passengers have been moved to other seating.On arrival all passenger are off before they move the body.

[tomazbodner]

Happened to me, didn't make fuss about it, apart from trying to comfort the spouse. 

 

It was an elderly Filipino couple on pilgrimage to Vatican... the man died early into the flight. Looked 80+. His wife crying and praying the entire flight to Bangkok. It was the last center row of Jumbo, the 4 seats I was hoping to sleep on as generally nobody wanted to sit on those as they didn't recline (much). But... flight attendant showed up shortly into the flight and asked me if I would mind if a gentlemen sat there, as he was feeling unwell. I didn't mind, but didn't expect that it was his last minutes.

 

I won't name the airline here, but they were less than kind to the lady. One of the last sentences the dying man has heard was "we will offload him in Bangkok", when I asked whether we would be making a diversion. Sad event. Felt very sorry for the surviving spouse. But, at least, he completed the mission of visiting the holy sites before passing away.

[Photoguy21]

2 hours ago, Peterphuket said:

One of many reasons never to fly with that airline.

I assume you have never flown with them.

[richard_smith237]

2 hours ago, Peterphuket said:

One of many reasons never to fly with that airline.

 

You'd never fly with Qatar Airlines because 'once' someone died on their flight and there was nowhere to top the deceased other than 'covered up in a seat'.... 

 

What do other airlines do ???... would you stop flying them all ??

 

Of course, the solution would be to move the nearby passengers up to business class etc (if there is space etc).... 

 

BUT...  IF YOU are going to making such decisions based on such scenarios... have you any idea what you could do differently if part of the crew on this flight ?

 

 

[Peterphuket]

7 minutes ago, Photoguy21 said:

I assume you have never flown with them.

Correct, recently opted for Emirates, but next to me was a man who was loudly professing the Koran, I will never go with that again either.

[lordgrinz]

The Qatar flights to Doha are Boeing 777's, thus there is a hidden crew compartment at the rear of the plane where they could have put the dead body. Sounds like the crew would rather inconvenience the passengers, rather than inconvenience themselves.

[Photoguy21]

7 minutes ago, lordgrinz said:

The Qatar flights to Doha are Boeing 777's, thus there is a hidden crew compartment at the rear of the plane where they could have put the dead body. Sounds like the crew would rather inconvenience the passengers, rather than inconvenience themselves.

Assuming that they knew when the person passed away. Sometimes it is better to move the person sitting next to them.

[richard_smith237]

12 minutes ago, lordgrinz said:

The Qatar flights to Doha are Boeing 777's, thus there is a hidden crew compartment at the rear of the plane where they could have put the dead body. Sounds like the crew would rather inconvenience the passengers, rather than inconvenience themselves.

 

How do you think they can get the weight of a 'dead body' safely up the steps into the crew-quarters ???

 

 

I read that the crew attempted to take the deceased passenger through to Business class to place them in a more secluded seat, but were unable to do so...    which leaves me wondering 'how large' the deceased was....  

... It certainly seems they had significant difficulty 'handing' the weight of the body.

 

 

What really could have been done differently ?...

I'm guessing there are very specific procedures for such and event and the crew followed them. 

 

 

[lordgrinz]

9 minutes ago, Photoguy21 said:

Assuming that they knew when the person passed away. Sometimes it is better to move the person sitting next to them.

 

Well I would certainly be willing to take the crew quarters for the duration of the flight 😉

[richard_smith237]

22 minutes ago, Peterphuket said:

Correct, recently opted for Emirates, but next to me was a man who was loudly professing the Koran, I will never go with that again either.

 

Does that mean you'll be avoiding all the following airlines... because their base of origin is a Mulsim country ???

 

Emirates (UAE), Etihad Airways (UAE), Qatar Airways (Qatar). Saudia (Saudi Arabia), Flynas (Saudi Arabia), Oman Air (Oman), Gulf Air (Bahrain), Kuwait Airways (Kuwait), Royal Jordanian (Jordan), Iraqi Airways (Iraq), Middle East Airlines (Lebanon), Syrian Air (Syria) etc etc ect.....