Couple sits next to woman who died during Qatar Airways flight

• A couple flying to Qatar’s capital was forced to sit next to a deceased woman after she collapsed during their flight. Despite attempts to revive her, the woman died.
• Qatar Airways apologized for the situation and said it was working to contact passengers according to company policies.
• The International Air Transport Association’s safety guidelines recommend moving the deceased to an empty seat, using a body bag, or covering them with a blanket if no body bag is available.

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A couple flying from Australia to Qatar found themselves sitting next to a woman who died during their flight. Mitchell Ring and Jennifer Colin were making their way to Venice by way of Qatar’s capital, Doha.

Woman collapses during flight

The couple told an Australian news outlet that during the final hours of their Qatar Airways flight, a woman collapsed near their seats after returning from the bathroom. Flight attendants attempted to save the woman’s life, but despite their efforts, she died.

Qatar Airways issued a statement to NBC News, expressing condolences to the woman’s family. The couple said due to empty seats in their row, the crew placed the woman’s body next to them. When they tried to move, they were told to remain seated until medics could recover the deceased passenger upon landing.

Airline apologizes for incident

Qatar Airways apologized for the incident and said they are working to contact passengers in line with company policies. According to the International Air Transport Association’s safety guidelines, if a deceased passenger can be moved, airlines are advised to place them in a seat with few passengers nearby, or if the plane is full, back to their original seat.

The guidelines also recommend that the deceased should be placed inside a body bag or covered with a blanket if one isn’t available.