Death in flight

[750XL]

Unfortunately, I've dealt with a few flights that have arrived under a medical emergency, only to find the passenger deceased upon opening the aircraft doors.

We recently had a flight from the far east heading to the UK divert to Azerbaijan with a medical emergency, but unfortunately the passenger was deceased upon arrival. The passenger was loaded into a body bag, and placed into the hold for the aircraft to continue it's flight with the passenger on board, I believe a death certificate was issued upon arrival at the divert station.

Are there any laws or rules regarding this? I was always under the impression that the body had to be offloaded at the diversion airport and then shipped back to the family, although I understand that keeping the person on board is far more favourable.

[llondel]

Perhaps the deceased lived in the UK and was returning? Or it was easier to bring the body to the UK and then either keep it on the aircraft for the return flight or move it to the next aircraft going the other way, depending on the airline. There might not normally be direct flights from Azerbijan to the far east destination.

[grounded27]

Death inflight was common during Hajj flights, we always continued, off loaded the body after pax deplaned, changed the seat covers (loose bowls). Generations would save up for the eldest to make the pilgrimage. The stress of flight and knowledge that they had made or were on their journey was the common thought as to why these elderly people died.

[WASPERNATOR]

If a body needs to be in a sealed (usually zinc lined) coffin and embalmed, it's hard to see why it would be bagged up and reloaded as cargo even if at a divert airport?

I'm a funeral director - based near Heathrow. We have removed bodies from flights. When this happens, the local coroner orders a PM, (autopsy) issues an out of England certificate and hands the body back to us.

We then embalm it, do a little consulate work and place the body in a zinc lined coffin. This ensures no odour or fluid leakages. We present the sealed package and paperwork to the airline cargo department (or agent) and that is that.

We do of course also collect our modest fees and airline charges from the deceased's family.

[750XL]

In the case I mentioned in the original post, I believe the deceased resided in the UK, hence why they 'carried on' the journey here. However, it does strike me as unusual that it's legal to offload the body, place it into a bag then place it in the hold to carry on the journey - all of this completed in under an hour!

[create_it83]

It's very complicated. The law varies from country to country, and on its interpretation in the heat of the moment by ground handlers.

Some countries will impound the body and not release it until the appropriate due process has been followed. Others will allow you to continue as described, if they are satisfied there is no foul play.

Law may be different in context of a medical diversion vs a planned fuel stop too!

[750XL]

It's very complicated. The law varies from country to country, and on its interpretation in the heat of the moment by ground handlers.

Some countries will impound the body and not release it until the appropriate due process has been followed. Others will allow you to continue as described, if they are satisfied there is no foul play.

Thanks, that's what I was wondering about.

At our station, the police and border force must be in attendance upon arrival and AFAIK the aircraft is treated as a crime scene until it's been cleared by the police.

[wiggy]

Some countries will impound the body and not release it until the appropriate due process has been followed. Others will allow you to continue as described, if they are satisfied there is no foul play.


And if you divert due for medical reasons and the passenger dies before landing some countries will simply refuse to "accept" the deceased and insist that they stay on the flight/aircraft...

All very unpleasant for everybody involved.

[N707ZS]

I am sure I once saw a TV programme and they showed a body storage area in the cabin of an airliner, one of the long distance route aircraft.

[crewmeal]

That's the crew rest area. Probably many of them will appear dead after a strenuous meal service:D

[Exascot]

And if you divert due for medical reasons and the passenger dies before landing some countries will simply refuse to "accept" the deceased and insist that they stay on the flight/aircraft..

If you have a doctor on board do not let him declare a passenger dead. Get the passenger with 'possibly weak signs of life' into an ambulance and away. We had an incident where we diverted. Pax died in the decent. We were waiting ages for steps and the doctor told the handling agent through the door 'no rush, he's dead'. It then took us hours to get the body off. The aircraft was packed with the deceased lying in the aisle next to his wife. Apparently it ruined her whole holiday :}