Australian Couple Criticizes Qatar Airways After Being Seated Next to a Corpse on Long-Haul Flight

• Feb 26, 2025

An Australian couple has expressed their disappointment with Qatar Airways after being seated next to a deceased passenger during a 14-hour flight from Melbourne to Doha.

Mitchell Ring and his wife, Jennifer Colin, were traveling to Venice when a fellow passenger passed away mid-flight. According to Ring, airline staff attempted to move the deceased woman to business class but were unable to do so due to the narrow aisle and her size.

“They looked frustrated and then noticed the empty seats beside me,” Ring told Nine News. “They asked me to move, and I complied, but they placed her in the seat I had been in.”

Ring said he remained next to the body for approximately four hours, even after the flight landed. Emergency responders and police arrived after touchdown, at which point the ambulance crew removed the blankets covering the deceased.

“It wasn’t a pleasant experience,” Ring recalled.

Colin, who admits she already struggles with air travel, was unsettled by the incident. “There has to be a proper protocol in place to ensure passengers are looked after in such situations,” she said.

Despite available empty seats on the flight, Ring and Colin were not relocated.

In response, Qatar Airways issued a statement apologizing for the distress caused.

“First and foremost, our thoughts are with the family of the passenger who sadly passed away on board our flight. We regret any inconvenience or discomfort experienced by other travelers,” the airline said.