Couple's trauma after body placed next to them on flight

An Australian couple recounted the "traumatic" moments they experienced on a Qatar Airways flight when the body of a deceased passenger was placed next to them. Mitchell Ring and Jennifer Corrin were on their way to Venice for their honeymoon when a woman passed away in the aisle next to them on a flight from Melbourne to Doha. This unexpected event cast a shadow over what should have been a joyous occasion.

The couple stated that despite the presence of empty seats, the crew placed the body, covered with a blanket, next to Mr. Ring and did not offer him a seat change for the next four hours. Qatar Airways has apologized for "any inconvenience or distress" this incident may have caused and added that they are contacting the passengers. The airline acknowledged the sensitive nature of the situation and the impact it had on the couple.

Mr. Ring said that the staff reacted "immediately" when the woman collapsed, but "unfortunately, the lady couldn't be revived, which was incredibly heartbreaking." He also mentioned that the crew had tried to move the body to business class, "but she was a larger lady and couldn't fit through the aisle." The crew's efforts to assist the passenger and manage the situation were ultimately unsuccessful.

Mr. Ring said that the crew saw that there were empty seats next to him. "They said, 'Can you move over?' I just said, 'Okay, no problem'. Then they put the lady in the chair I was sitting in." Ms. Corrin was able to move to a nearby empty seat, but Mr. Ring stated that even with available seats, the crew did not give him the same opportunity. The disparity in treatment added to the couple's distress and sense of unfairness.

Qatar Airways said in a statement: "Firstly, we offer our heartfelt condolences to the family of the passenger who sadly passed away on our flight. We apologize for any inconvenience or distress this incident may have caused and are in the process of contacting the passengers in line with our policies and procedures." A Qantas spokesperson said: "The process for managing such incidents on aircraft is managed by the operating airline, in this case, Qatar Airways." The airlines are now working to address the situation and provide support to those affected.