Mitchell Ring and Jennifer Colin thought they had struck gold when they discovered empty seats on their flight from Melbourne to Doha, but their journey took a dark turn when a passenger died during the flight. In a shocking decision, the crew placed the deceased woman in their row for the last four hours of the trip.
The incident began when the woman collapsed shortly after leaving the restroom. Ring described the heartbreaking scene, noting the crew’s struggle to transport the woman towards business class due to limited space. Eventually, they requested Ring to move over to accommodate the body of the deceased passenger. Although Ring complied, the couple was left in shock as they continued to sit beside the corpse.
The couple expressed their distress at not being offered alternative seating, while another passenger from behind came forward and offered Colin a different seat. Despite several visible spare seats on the plane, the couple was reassured by the staff that they needed to remain seated. Ring recounted the discomfort of sitting next to the body under a blanket until medical personnel arrived after landing.
Following the traumatic experience, neither Ring nor Colin received any support from Qatar Airways, leading Ring to voice his concerns about the airline’s duty of care towards passengers. He expressed a desire for counselling support to process the traumatic event. As they attempted to enjoy their delayed Italian holiday, Colin remarked on trying to make the best out of a difficult situation.
Qatar Airways has since stated that they are reviewing the incident, and Qantas, through which the couple booked their tickets, has indicated they will reach out to offer assistance. The response from the airlines highlights a need for better communication and support mechanisms for passengers affected by such distressing events onboard.