A Qatar Airways flight from Melbourne to Doha took a tragic turn when a passenger collapsed and died mid-air, leaving fellow travelers shocked and distressed. Among them were Mitchell Ring and Jennifer Colin, who found themselves seated next to the deceased passenger for the remainder of the journey.
Passenger Dies After Collapsing Mid-Flight
According to reports, the incident occurred when a woman exited the bathroom and suddenly collapsed near Ring and Colin’s row. Despite immediate medical assistance from the cabin crew, she could not be revived. “Unfortunately, the lady couldn’t be saved, which was pretty heartbreaking to watch,” Ring told Nine.com.au.
Deceased Passenger Placed in Their Row
After the woman’s passing, the crew attempted to move her body to the business class section but were unable to navigate the narrow aisle. With limited options, they placed the deceased passenger in the seat next to Ring.
“They looked a bit frustrated, then they just looked at me and saw seats were available beside me. My wife was on the other side, we were in a row of four. They said, ‘Can you move over please?’ and I just said, ‘Yes, no problem.’ Then they placed the lady in the chair I was in,” Ring recounted.
Despite the distressing situation, the couple was not offered alternative seating. A fellow passenger sitting behind them later offered Colin a spare seat upon noticing her discomfort.
For the next four hours, Ring remained seated next to the deceased passenger. Even after landing, he was instructed to stay in place while medical teams removed the body. “I can’t believe they told us to stay … it wasn’t nice,” he added.
Qatar Airways Responds
Qatar Airways has acknowledged the incident and stated that it is investigating the situation. The airline extended its condolences to the deceased passenger’s family and apologized for any distress caused to those on board.
“First and foremost, our thoughts are with the family of the passenger who sadly passed away on board our flight,” a Qatar Airways spokesperson said.
“We apologize for any inconvenience or distress this incident may have caused and are in the process of contacting passengers in line with our policies and procedures.”
Sources By Agencies
