An Australian couple has been left emotionally shaken after a tragic incident aboard a Qatar Airways flight from Australia to Venice. Mitchell Ring and Jennifer Colin shared their heartbreaking experience on the Australian news program A Current Affair.
The couple described how, hours into their long-haul flight, a fellow passenger collapsed and tragically passed away after returning from the bathroom.
The woman’s sudden death shocked everyone onboard, with Ring recalling how the flight attendants tried unsuccessfully to save her.
“Unfortunately, the lady couldn’t be saved, which was pretty heartbreaking to watch,” Ring said. “They tried to wheel her up towards business class, but she was quite a large lady and they couldn’t get her through the aisle.”
After the woman’s death, the crew faced an uncomfortable dilemma: they could not move the body to another area of the plane due to its size.
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In a decision that horrified the couple, the flight attendants placed the deceased woman’s body in their row for the remainder of the flight.
Mitchell and Jennifer were left to endure the traumatic experience of sitting next to a lifeless body for hours. Despite the severity of the situation, they claimed the crew did not offer an alternative seat.
Qatar Airways has since apologized for the distress caused. The airline issued a statement offering condolences to the deceased woman’s family and expressed regret for the inconvenience to other passengers.
“Our thoughts are with the family of the passenger who sadly passed away on board our flight,” Qatar Airways said.
Despite the trauma, the couple continued on their journey to Venice, attempting to salvage what was left of their vacation.
NEW: Australian couple recalls sitting next to a deceased woman for hours on a long-haul flight to Venice
Mitchell Ring and Jennifer Colin were on a Qatar Airways flight from Melbourne to Venice
A woman collapsed in the aisle after going to the toilet
Despite efforts from the… pic.twitter.com/ubaZQSW6ja
— Unlimited L's (@unlimited_ls) February 25, 2025
