An Australian couple’s long-haul flight took an unsettling turn when a fellow passenger collapsed and passed away mid-flight.
With no alternative arrangements made, the deceased woman was placed in an empty seat in their row, leaving Mitchell Ring sitting next to the covered body for the remaining four hours of the journey.
Dream Trip Takes an Unexpected and Tragic Turn
Ring and his wife, Jennifer Colin, were traveling from Melbourne to Doha on a Qatar Airways flight last week before continuing to Venice for their long-awaited holiday.
Roughly 10 hours into the flight, a woman exited the restroom, collapsed near their row, and despite the crew’s efforts, could not be revived, according to A Current Affair.
Cabin Crew’s Response and Seating Arrangement
Following the passenger’s passing, the cabin crew attempted to move her towards business class.
However, they were unable to do so because “she was quite a large lady” and was unable to get her through the aisle.
Instead, they noticed available seats in Ring and Colin’s row and asked Ring to shift over so they could place the deceased woman in his original seat.
“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.”
While Colin was offered another seat by a fellow passenger, allowing her to move, Ring was not offered a different seat by the airline even though there were vacant seats available.
As a result, he remained in the same row, next to the body, until the flight landed in Doha, BBC News reported.
Emotional Toll and Lack of Support
Upon arrival, medical staff and authorities boarded the aircraft. Passengers were asked to stay seated as emergency personnel assessed the situation.
“I can’t believe they told us to stay … it wasn’t nice.”
Despite the distressing experience, Ring and Colin said that neither Qatar Airways nor Qantas, the airline they booked through, contacted them afterward to offer support or counseling.
Qatar Airways Responds
Following media coverage, Qatar Airways issued a statement expressing condolences to the family of the deceased passenger. The airline also apologized for any distress caused and stated that it was in the process of contacting affected passengers.
Meanwhile, Qantas clarified that handling onboard incidents is the responsibility of the operating airline, which in this case was Qatar Airways.
Despite the unsettling experience, Colin said she and Ring were trying to focus on their holiday and make the best of their trip.
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