Passenger Shocked After Being Seated Next To Deceased Traveler On Flight

 

An airline passenger has described his distress after cabin crew seated him next to the body of a fellow traveler who passed away mid-flight.

The female passenger collapsed in the aisle near Mitchell Ring and his partner, Jennifer Colin, during their Qatar Airways flight from Melbourne to Doha. The Australian couple was on their way to Venice for a vacation when the unexpected incident unfolded.

Attempts to Save the Passenger

Ring recalled witnessing the crew’s desperate efforts to revive the woman.

“Unfortunately, the lady couldn’t be saved, which was pretty heartbreaking to watch,” he said.

After she was pronounced dead, the crew initially attempted to move the body to the business class section but were unable to navigate the narrow aisle.

“They looked a bit frustrated, then they just looked at me, saw seats available beside me, and asked if I could move over,” Ring explained. “I just said, ‘yes, no problem,’ and they placed the lady in the chair I was in.”

Ring ended up seated next to the deceased woman for the remaining four hours of the flight, despite other empty seats being available on the plane.

Another passenger offered Colin an open seat across the aisle, where she remained for the rest of the journey.

A Traumatic Experience

Colin described the experience as deeply unsettling.

“I was really shocked,” she said. “We understand that the airline isn’t responsible for the poor lady’s death, but there has to be a protocol in place to take care of passengers in such situations.”

After landing, Ring said passengers seated nearby were instructed to remain in their seats until medical personnel and police officers arrived to remove the body.

“I can’t believe they told us to stay,” he said, adding that he was present when ambulance staff removed the blanket covering the deceased passenger.

Lack of Airline Support

The couple stated that the airline did not reach out to them immediately following the incident, despite their distress.

Ring expressed disappointment, saying he expected the airline to provide counseling or support.

Qantas Airways, which issued the couple’s tickets, confirmed that they had been in contact with Colin and were following up with Qatar Airways regarding the matter.

“The process for handling incidents onboard an aircraft like this is managed by the operating airline, which in this case is Qatar Airways,” Qantas said in a statement.

Coping with the Aftermath

As they continue their trip, Ring and Colin are still processing the traumatic event.

“I don’t really know how I feel,” Ring admitted. “I would like to talk to someone and make sure I’m alright.”