An Australian couple has shared their distressing experience of sitting beside a deceased passenger for hours during a long-haul flight from Melbourne to Venice with Qatar Airways.

Sudden Medical Emergency Onboard

Mitchell Ring and Jennifer Colin were mid-flight when a female passenger suddenly collapsed in the aisle after using the restroom. Despite the cabin crew’s swift efforts to revive her, the woman could not be saved.

‘Unfortunately, the lady couldn’t be saved, which was pretty heartbreaking to watch,’ Mr. Ring recounted in an interview with A Current Affair.

Handling of the Situation

The flight crew attempted to move the body but struggled due to the narrow aisles and the woman’s size. As a result, they placed the deceased passenger in a seat next to Mr. Ring and covered her with blankets for the remainder of the flight to Doha.

The situation was particularly distressing for Ms. Colin, who is a nervous flyer. She recalled the moment she realized what was happening: ‘When my husband turned around and said, “move, move”, I was pretty shocked and asked, “Are they going to put her there?”‘

Fortunately, a kind passenger with an empty seat nearby offered Ms. Colin a place to sit, as the cabin crew did not offer the couple a relocation.

Additional Challenges Upon Landing

The ordeal did not end upon arrival in Doha. After landing, the couple was forced to remain seated while police and medical officers boarded the aircraft to inspect the body. Mr. Ring described the distressing moment when the crew removed the blankets covering the deceased passenger: ‘I can’t believe they told us to stay… it wasn’t nice.’

He also expressed disappointment at the airline’s lack of follow-up: ‘They have a duty of care towards their customers as well as their staff. We should be contacted to make sure—do you need some support? Do you need some counseling?’

Airline Response and Aftermath

Qatar Airways has stated that it is investigating the incident. The couple, who booked their tickets through Qantas, has also received a statement from the airline indicating that Qatar Airways, as the operating carrier, was responsible for handling the situation.

Despite the unsettling experience, the couple is determined to make the most of their trip to Venice. ‘I’m trying to make the best of a pretty hard situation, but, you know, we’re on holiday, so we’re trying to have a good time,’ Ms. Colin said.

This harrowing incident has raised concerns about how airlines manage unexpected medical emergencies onboard and the support provided to affected passengers.

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