Qatar Airways Responds After Passengers Seated Next to Deceased Traveler on 14-Hour Flight

Qatar Airways released a statement following claims from an Australian couple who described their experience on a Melbourne-to-Doha flight as traumatic after being seated next to a deceased passenger for 14 hours. The couple shared their ordeal with Australia’s Channel Nine, prompting concerns about the airline’s in-flight emergency protocols.

Qatar Airways has defended its handling of an incident in which a couple remained seated next to a deceased passenger for several hours on a 14-hour flight, stating that its crew "acted quickly, appropriately, and professionally." In a statement to the BBC, the airline said an internal review confirmed that the crew's response was "in line with training and industry standard practice."

The airline also noted that it had provided support and compensation to the deceased passenger’s family as well as to other travelers who were "directly affected" by the situation.

"Passengers were accommodated in other seats, and a crew member remained seated with the deceased passenger for the duration of the flight until landing in Doha," Qatar Airways told the outlet.

Acknowledging the unfortunate reality of in-flight medical emergencies, the airline emphasized that its crew members are "highly trained to handle these situations with as much respect and dignity as possible."

The statement followed an interview with Australia's Channel Nine, in which Mitchell Ring and Jennifer Colin, a couple on the Melbourne-to-Doha flight, described their experience as traumatic. According to their account, the deceased woman, covered in blankets, remained next to Mr. Ring for the last four hours of the journey.

Mr. Ring recalled that airline staff asked him to move over so they could position the woman in his seat. While another passenger invited Ms. Colin to sit elsewhere across the aisle, Mr. Ring claimed that the crew did not offer to relocate him, despite vacant seats being available.

He further recounted that after landing, passengers were instructed to remain in their seats while medical staff and police boarded the aircraft. He described watching as ambulance officers removed the blankets covering the woman, revealing her face.

"I can't believe they told us to stay," he said, adding that he expected passengers to be allowed to disembark before medical personnel arrived.

Expressing frustration over the airline’s response, Mr. Ring emphasized the need for better support measures. "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?" he said.

Qatar Airways had previously apologized for "any inconvenience or distress this incident may have caused." "First and foremost, our thoughts are with the family of the passenger who sadly passed away on board our flight," the airline stated.

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Source: NDTV‍