Dhaka: An Australian couple travelling on board Qatar Airways to Venice took a harrowing turn when they were compelled to sit next to a deceased passenger for several hours.

Mitchell Ring and his wife, Jennifer Colin, were en route from Melbourne to Doha when a fellow passenger collapsed near their seats. Despite prompt medical assistance from the flight crew, the woman did not survive. The crew attempted to relocate her to business class but faced challenges due to the aircraft’s configuration. Consequently, they placed the body in a vacant seat adjacent to Mitchell and Jennifer, requesting them to remain in their seats for the remainder of the flight. This situation persisted for approximately four hours until the plane landed in Doha. “It was traumatising. I couldn’t believe we had to sit there and witness this,” Ring said in an interview.

Upon arrival, the couple was instructed to stay seated while medical personnel boarded to examine the deceased. Ring recounted the distressing experience, noting that the blankets covering the body were removed in their presence, exposing them to the deceased’s face. He expressed disbelief at being asked to remain seated during this process, describing the ordeal as “traumatising.”

Following the incident, both passengers reported receiving no follow-up care or counselling support from the airline. They emphasised the airline’s duty of care towards passengers, suggesting that they should have been contacted to ensure their well-being and offered appropriate support services. “They have a duty of care towards their customers as well as their staff, we should be contacted to make sure, do you need some support, do you need some counselling,” Ring told

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