Qatar Airways has defended its cabin crew, stating that they acted "quickly, appropriately, and professionally" when handling the unexpected death of a passenger during a flight from Melbourne to Doha. The airline's statement came in response to complaints from an Australian couple who said they were left deeply traumatized after the deceased woman was placed in a seat next to them for the final four hours of the flight.
The incident has sparked debate over the protocols airlines follow when a passenger dies mid-flight and whether more could have been done to minimize distress for other travelers.
The couple at the center of the controversy, Mitchell Ring and Jennifer Colin, were traveling to Venice for a holiday when the tragic event unfolded. According to their account, a fellow passenger—a woman they estimated to be in her 60s—began experiencing medical distress.
Flight attendants and medical professionals onboard attempted to assist her, but despite their efforts, she passed away while still seated. The couple, who were sitting in the same aisle, recalled seeing the crew administer first aid and CPR before confirming that she had died.
Initially, the cabin crew tried to move the deceased passenger to the business class section, where she could be placed in a more isolated area. However, due to the size of the woman and the narrow aisles of the aircraft, they faced challenges in relocating her. Instead, the crew asked Ring to shift seats, and they placed the body in the seat he had occupied.
Colin was invited by another passenger across the aisle to sit elsewhere, but Ring remained in his seat next to the covered body for the rest of the flight. He later expressed frustration, saying that despite vacant seats on the plane, he was not offered an alternative seating arrangement by the crew.
Speaking to Channel Nine, Colin said, "We understand that the airline isn't responsible for what happened to the poor lady, but surely there should be a better protocol to handle these situations. No one should have to sit next to a deceased passenger for hours on a long-haul flight."
Ring added that while he felt sympathy for the woman and her family, he found it extremely difficult to remain in that situation for four hours.
"It is an unfortunate reality that unexpected deaths do sometimes occur on board aircraft across the aviation industry, and our crew is highly trained to deal with these situations with as much respect and dignity as possible," the airline stated.
The airline clarified that after confirming the passenger’s passing, the crew made arrangements to accommodate other passengers and that a flight attendant remained beside the deceased passenger for the rest of the journey to ensure dignity and respect.
Qatar Airways also confirmed that they had offered support and compensation to both the family of the deceased passenger and the travelers who were directly impacted.
However, their statement did not address why Ring was not relocated to another seat, despite his complaints about the distressing experience.
The incident has raised questions about how airlines handle in-flight medical emergencies and deaths, particularly on long-haul flights where landing immediately is often not an option.
A former Virgin Atlantic captain, Barry Eustance, told the BBC that in most cases, airline crews will try to isolate the deceased passenger as much as possible to maintain privacy and respect for both the individual and other travelers.
According to guidelines from the International Air Transport Association (IATA):
If a passenger dies mid-flight, they should be moved to an area with as few other passengers as possible.
The body should be covered with a blanket or body bag up to the neck to maintain dignity.
The body should not obstruct an aisle or an emergency exit.
Upon landing, other passengers should disembark before medical personnel attend to the body.
Despite these guidelines, factors such as aircraft size, passenger load, and seat availability can impact how easily airlines can follow them.
Although deaths mid-flight are rare, they are not unheard of, particularly on long-haul international routes. Airlines typically train cabin crews to handle medical emergencies, but there is no universal policy on what to do if a passenger passes away.
The lack of consistent guidelines has led to multiple cases in the past where passengers have complained about being seated next to a deceased person for extended periods.
In 2022, a similar incident occurred on a British Airways flight when a woman died during the journey, and her body was left in the economy class section for several hours. Passengers later criticized the airline, saying they were given no information or support during the experience.
Following this latest incident on Qatar Airways, some travelers are now calling for clearer policies and better solutions, such as:
Dedicated areas on planes for medical emergencies
Better training for airline staff on seating reallocation
For now, Qatar Airways stands by its crew’s actions, maintaining that they handled the situation professionally and followed aviation industry practices. However, the debate over how airlines should manage these tragic events remains a topic of discussion in the aviation industry.
The death of a passenger on board a Qatar Airways flight has highlighted the challenges airlines face when dealing with medical emergencies at 35,000 feet. While Qatar Airways insists that its crew followed standard procedures, the experience of Mitchell Ring and Jennifer Colin raises important questions about passenger care, seating arrangements, and how airlines should manage such incidents with greater sensitivity.
With growing concerns over how in-flight deaths are handled, this case may push the aviation industry to review and improve its protocols to ensure both dignity for the deceased and consideration for the well-being of other passengers on board.
