Trapped beside tragedy: How an Australian couple’s flight became a nightmare

Travelling by air has become a common part of many Australians’ lives, especially for those who have reached the age where they can enjoy the fruits of their labour with holidays abroad. However, a recent incident on a flight from Australia has highlighted a rare but deeply unsettling situation that could leave any traveller shaken.

Mitchell Ring and Jennifer Colin were looking forward to their dream holiday in Italy when they boarded a Qatar Airways flight, booked through Qantas, from Melbourne to Doha. Little did they know that their journey would take a horrifying turn, leaving them ‘traumatised’ and questioning the protocols of in-flight emergencies.

As they settled into their seats, ready for the long haul ahead, an unimaginable scenario unfolded. A fellow passenger, who had just exited the toilet, suddenly collapsed in the aisle beside them. Despite the cabin crew’s desperate attempts at resuscitation, the woman tragically could not be revived. The couple’s distress was compounded when they were asked to ‘move over’ so that the woman’s body could be placed in the seat next to them.

Mitchell recounted the ordeal to A Current Affair, describing how the crew initially tried to move the woman towards business class but were unable to do so due to her size. ‘They just looked at me and saw seats were available beside me. And they just said, ‘Can you move over, please?’,’ he said. The crew covered the woman with blankets, and while Jennifer, already a nervous flyer, was encouraged by another passenger to change seats, the cabin crew did not facilitate their move.

For hours, Mitchell sat beside the deceased passenger, an experience that would haunt any of us. Upon landing in Doha, the couple’s discomfort continued as they were instructed to remain seated while paramedics and police boarded the aircraft. Mitchell was particularly disturbed by the removal of the blankets, which exposed the woman’s face to him once again.

The aftermath of such a traumatic event is crucial, and the couple felt let down by the airlines’ response. They claimed that neither Qantas nor Qatar Airways reached out to offer support or counselling, leaving them to cope with the emotional fallout on their own. It was only after the story gained media attention that Qantas made contact with the passengers.

In response to the incident, a Qantas spokesperson explained that the handling of onboard incidents is managed by the operating airline, which in this case was Qatar Airways. Qatar Airlines has since apologised for the distress caused and stated they are in the process of contacting passengers in line with their policies.

Experiencing an in-flight emergency is something no traveller expects, let alone having to sit beside a deceased passenger for hours. This incident raises important questions about airline protocols and passenger support in such distressing situations.

What do you think—should airlines have clearer procedures for handling in-flight deaths? How can they better support passengers in these situations? Share your thoughts in the comments below.

Also read: Virgin Australia passenger’s ordeal sparks urgent call for change in airline claims process