British Airways responded to an incident where a deceased passenger was allegedly left in a galley for 13 hours during a flight. The woman, aged in her 60s, passed away one hour into a trip from Hong Kong to London Heathrow. Despite this, the pilots of the Airbus A350-1000 reportedly continued the journey, leading to complaints from passengers about an unpleasant odor emanating from that area.
According to an unnamed source cited by The Sun, the family accompanying the deceased passenger and the flight crew were deeply upset by the situation. Several passengers expressed a desire to return to Hong Kong, but the airline did not treat the incident as an emergency.
A British Airways spokesperson, speaking to Express, conveyed condolences to the deceased passenger’s family and friends, emphasizing that proper procedures were followed in dealing with the situation. The source revealed that there was a suggestion from the flight deck to store the body in a restroom, which was turned down by the crew. Instead, the deceased passenger was wrapped and relocated to the back galley of the aircraft.
As the flight progressed, a noticeable foul smell permeated the galley, which had a heated floor. Upon landing in the UK, authorities boarded the plane to investigate, causing a delay of 45 minutes with passengers remaining seated.
In dealing with deaths on flights, airlines typically adhere to guidelines established by the International Air Transport Association. These guidelines recommend closing the eyes of the deceased passenger, placing the body in a body bag if available, or covering it with a blanket up to the neck if a body bag is not accessible. Additionally, efforts should be made to move the body away from other passengers if feasible.