British Airways has confirmed that proper procedures were followed after allegations arose that a woman’s body was placed in a warm galley for 13 hours. The woman, reported to be in her 60s, passed away shortly after a flight from Hong Kong to London commenced. The pilot chose not to divert the plane or make an emergency landing, leading the crew to store the deceased in the front of the aircraft, which featured a heated floor.
An insider disclosed to the Sun that both the family of the deceased woman and the crew were distressed by the situation. Despite some crew members expressing a desire to return to Hong Kong, it was determined that a passenger’s death did not constitute an emergency. The crew deliberated on how to handle the situation, ultimately rejecting the idea of securing the body in a restroom as suggested by the flight deck.
Therefore, the crew had to carefully isolate the body, wrap it, and transfer it to a galley at the back of the plane. Towards the end of the flight, there were reports of an unpleasant odor in that area due to the heated floor being overlooked by some crew members.
Authorities met Flight BA32 upon its arrival and conducted investigations, leading to a temporary delay for passengers. British Airways ensured that all crew members received necessary support, with some taking time off to address any emotional distress.
In line with guidelines from the International Air Transport Association, in the event of a passenger passing away during a flight, the body should be appropriately covered and relocated away from other passengers. British Airways expressed condolences for the loss of the customer and emphasized that they are supporting the affected crew members, affirming that all protocols were executed correctly.