'We go from dinner service to dealing with a corpse': What happens when an air passenger dies

When a passenger dies on an airplane, it creates a challenging situation for the cabin crew. Jay Robert, a cabin manager with extensive experience in the airline industry, describes the sudden shift in responsibilities that crew members must undertake. He states, 'We go from service to lifesaving to mortician, dealing with dead bodies and then doing crowd control. ' This means that while they are trying to serve meals to hundreds of passengers, they also have to manage the unfortunate reality of a death on board. Jay has been working in aviation for over a decade and has only encountered one death during his career. He notes that fatalities on flights are quite rare, particularly on shorter journeys. A study published in the New England Journal of Medicine in 2013 found that only 0. 3% of passengers who experienced a medical emergency during a flight ultimately died. This statistic highlights how infrequent such occurrences are. Recently, an Australian couple shared their distressing experience of a woman passing away during their flight from Melbourne to Doha. They reported that the cabin crew placed the deceased woman's body next to them for the remaining four hours of the journey, which they found to be extremely traumatic. The airline, Qatar Airways, acknowledged the incident and expressed regret for any distress caused. Jay and his fellow cabin crew members are trained to handle these situations, but it remains a difficult task. They are not authorized to officially declare a death; that responsibility lies with medical professionals. In some cases, if a qualified doctor is on board, they may assist, but more often than not, the determination is made upon landing. Most airlines adhere to the guidelines set forth by the International Air Transport Association (IATA) regarding how to manage a situation where a passenger is presumed dead. Jay explains that if a passenger is thought to have died, their eyes should be closed, and they should be covered with a blanket or placed in a body bag if one is available. Finding a suitable location for the body on an aircraft can be quite challenging due to the limited space available. According to IATA guidelines, the body should ideally be moved to a seat away from other passengers, but if the flight is full, it may have to remain in the same seat. Jay points out that on smaller aircraft, there is often not enough room to maintain privacy for the deceased. He states, 'If someone dies on board an aircraft like that, it's quite likely they will need to be placed in a seat. ' This can create an uncomfortable atmosphere for the other passengers. The crew makes efforts to handle the situation with dignity by using curtains and dim lighting, but they must prioritize safety as well. The body cannot be placed in the galley or left in the aisles, as this could obstruct emergency exits. Jay emphasizes that moving a body in such confined spaces is a significant challenge. In the case of the Australian couple, the body could not be moved down the aisle due to the limited space. In situations where a passenger is experiencing a medical emergency, the crew will attempt to provide assistance and may divert the flight to obtain medical help. However, if a passenger is already presumed dead, the flight typically does not divert. The captain will notify the airline's operations center and air traffic control about the death, and local authorities will be present when the plane lands. If the deceased passenger was traveling alone, the airline will reach out to their family. Ally Murphy, who hosts a podcast where she interviews flight attendants, recounted her own experience of a passenger dying during a flight. She remembers a male passenger who had been traveling alone from Accra, Ghana, to London. After a fellow passenger alerted the crew that he was unresponsive, they quickly moved him to a larger area to perform CPR. Unfortunately, despite their efforts, he did not survive. Ally shared, 'I held him in my arms for the final moments of his life. ' This experience was deeply emotional for her, and she felt traumatized afterward. Cabin crew members are provided with support following such incidents, including access to therapy and the option to take time off to process what has occurred. Jay explains that while they are trained to handle these situations, it is not something they encounter regularly, making it particularly difficult for them to cope when a passenger dies on board.