Australian Travelers Speak Out After Shocking In-Flight Incident

Mitchell Ring and Jennifer Colin, an Australian couple, faced a distressing experience during their flight to Venice when a deceased woman's body was placed next to them by Qatar Airways crew. The airline has since apologized but the couple criticized the lack of support and follow-up from the airline after the incident.

An Australian couple has recounted a harrowing experience on a Qatar Airways flight, revealing that the body of a deceased passenger was placed beside them during their journey. Mitchell Ring and Jennifer Colin, who were en route to Venice, described the "traumatic" events that unfolded during the flight from Melbourne to Doha, where a woman collapsed in the aisle.

Reacting to the crisis, cabin crew attempted to move the body towards business class but were unsuccessful due to the woman's size. Instead, they opted to place her corpse, covered in blankets, next to Mr. Ring for the remaining four hours of the flight. Despite the availability of empty seats, Mr. Ring reported that he was not given the option to move, as his wife sat on the other side of the row.

Ms. Colin expressed her shock at realizing that cabin crew intended to place the deceased passenger next to them, raising concerns about airline protocols for handling such distressing situations. Upon landing, passengers were instructed to remain seated while medical personnel tended to the situation, and Mr. Ring recounted the eerie moment when they were subjected to seeing the deceased's face.

Following the incident, the couple has expressed disappointment at Qatar Airways and Qantas for not reaching out to offer support, counseling or assistance. "They have a duty of care towards their customers," Mr. Ring stated, emphasizing that the airline should have followed up to ensure their well-being. Though both acknowledge that the airline cannot be held accountable for the woman's death, they insist on better protocols to care for passengers in distressing scenarios.

In a statement, Qatar Airways extended condolences to the passenger's family and apologized for the distress caused, asserting they would reach out to affected passengers in line with established protocols. Meanwhile, a Qantas spokesperson clarified that incidents of this nature are managed by the operating airline, which in this case is Qatar Airways.