A female passenger died 30 minutes after takeoff on a British Airways flight from Hong Kong to London. Crew stored her body in a heated galley for 13.5 hours, causing odor. Passengers were held 45 min on landing. Airline says procedures followed.
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Body of Deceased Passenger Stored & Heated in Galley for 13-Hour Flight from China to London
A female passenger in her 60s passed away just 30 minutes after a British Airways flight took off from Hong Kong. Rather than returning to the airport, the flight continued its scheduled journey to London, carrying the deceased woman's body alongside 331 passengers and crew for the remaining 13 and a half hours.
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Handling of the Deceased
The incident created a logistical challenge for the cabin crew. According to reports, while some staff suggested locking the body in a lavatory, the crew ultimately decided to wrap the body and store it in the galley at the rear of the aircraft.
However, the crew reportedly overlooked the fact that the galley was equipped with underfloor heating. As the flight approached London, many of the 331 passengers and crew members reported smelling a noticeable odor coming from the area.
Arrival and Investigation
Upon landing in London, all passengers were required to remain in their seats for 45 minutes to facilitate a police investigation.
A source at British Airways noted that the airline does not currently have a unified, standard process for handling passengers who pass away during a flight. While no formal complaints have been filed by passengers yet, several members of the cabin crew involved in the incident have reportedly applied for leave due to psychological trauma.
Official Statements and Industry Guidelines
British Airways released a statement regarding the event:
"A customer sadly passed away on board and our thoughts are with their family and friends at this difficult time. We are supporting our crew and all procedures were correctly followed."
According to the International Air Transport Association (IATA), standard guidelines for in-flight deaths usually involve:
Placing the body in a body bag or covering it with a blanket up to the neck.
Moving the body to a less conspicuous area, such as an empty row or a separate cabin area, if space permits.
If the flight is full, the body may remain in the original seat.
Despite the distressing nature of this event, deaths on commercial flights are statistically very rare. A 2013 study published in the New England Journal of Medicine found that only 0.3% of in-flight medical emergencies result in a fatality.
Source: 辽沈晚报
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