**Mitchell Ring and Jennifer Colin are calling for improved protocols from airlines following their distressing flight experience with a deceased passenger.**
**Qatar Airways Flight Incident Leaves Passengers Distressed After Death on Board**
**Qatar Airways Flight Incident Leaves Passengers Distressed After Death on Board**
**Australian couple recounts traumatic experience after a body was placed beside them during a long-haul flight**
On a recent Qatar Airways flight from Melbourne to Doha, an Australian couple, Mitchell Ring and Jennifer Colin, experienced a harrowing ordeal when the body of a deceased passenger was placed next to them. As they traveled to Venice for what was intended to be a dream vacation, the incident turned into a nightmare when a woman sadly collapsed in the aisle during the journey. Without prior notice, cabin crew moved the deceased body, covered in blankets, next to Mr. Ring for the flight's remaining four hours, neglecting to offer him an alternative seating arrangement despite the presence of vacant seats.
The couple shared their experience with Australia’s Channel 9, expressing their shock and trauma over the lack of protocol in handling such incidents. While Ms. Colin managed to relocate to an empty adjacent seat, Mr. Ring found himself with no option to move away from the deceased passenger. He noted the cabin crew acted quickly when the woman collapsed, although she sadly could not be revived.
Upon landing, passengers were instructed to remain seated as medical personnel and police boarded the aircraft. Mr. Ring recounted the unsettling moment when ambulance personnel began to remove blankets from the deceased, revealing her face, which compounded their distress. The couple emphasized the need for airlines, specifically Qatar Airways, to have a clear duty of care protocol to support passengers in similar situations.
In their response, Qatar Airways expressed condolences for the deceased passenger's family and acknowledged any distress this incident may have caused. They are currently reaching out to other passengers as part of their standard procedures. Meanwhile, a spokesperson for Qantas, the airline through which the couple booked their flight, clarified that such incidents fall under the jurisdiction of the operating airline, which in this case is Qatar Airways.
The couple's experience has sparked discussions regarding airline protocol and passenger care during emergencies, as they advocate for better support systems for travelers affected by tragic occurrences onboard flights.
The couple shared their experience with Australia’s Channel 9, expressing their shock and trauma over the lack of protocol in handling such incidents. While Ms. Colin managed to relocate to an empty adjacent seat, Mr. Ring found himself with no option to move away from the deceased passenger. He noted the cabin crew acted quickly when the woman collapsed, although she sadly could not be revived.
Upon landing, passengers were instructed to remain seated as medical personnel and police boarded the aircraft. Mr. Ring recounted the unsettling moment when ambulance personnel began to remove blankets from the deceased, revealing her face, which compounded their distress. The couple emphasized the need for airlines, specifically Qatar Airways, to have a clear duty of care protocol to support passengers in similar situations.
In their response, Qatar Airways expressed condolences for the deceased passenger's family and acknowledged any distress this incident may have caused. They are currently reaching out to other passengers as part of their standard procedures. Meanwhile, a spokesperson for Qantas, the airline through which the couple booked their flight, clarified that such incidents fall under the jurisdiction of the operating airline, which in this case is Qatar Airways.
The couple's experience has sparked discussions regarding airline protocol and passenger care during emergencies, as they advocate for better support systems for travelers affected by tragic occurrences onboard flights.
