Forced to sit by a dead body for hours on a plane? Would you want to do this?

@MarieCoyle (41253)
February 26, 2025 1:00pm CST
I have seen several versions of this incident that occurred sometime last week. A woman went to use the restroom, and collapsed in the isle and died on the way back to her seat. They were unable to revive her. They tried to get her down the isle but evidently she was a rather large woman, and they could not. So they asked a couple to move over, and installed her in a seat next to a husband and wife. They covered her with a blanket, for four hours. Do you think this is the best they could do? There were other seats available that were empty and the dead woman would not have been right next to another passenger. People could have been arranged for the remainder of the trip to avoid this uncomfortable situation. I realize this could happen to any of us at any time. But they made a bad situation worse, in my opinion. I realize we will all leave this world at some point. I do think this woman that died was put in the wrong place. It just seems wrong somehow to me. Would you feel uncomfortable sitting by a blanket covered corpse for four hours?
https://www.theguardian.com/world/2025/feb/26/it-wasnt-nice-australian-couple-sat-next-to-corpse-on-long-haul-flight
15 people like this
11 responses
@kareng (68855)
• United States
26 Feb
I agree with you 100% and I would not have liked that at all. They were wrong and should have handled the situation much better. Empty seats or re-arranging seating would have been the right thing to do. Very disturbing!
4 people like this
@MarieCoyle (41253)
26 Feb
I could understand it happening if every seat was taken, but it wasn’t.
4 people like this
@kareng (68855)
• United States
27 Feb
@MarieCoyle Right, I agree.
2 people like this
@porwest (96697)
• United States
27 Feb
Did they at least get her pretzels?
1 person likes this
@Tampa_girl7 (51714)
• United States
26 Feb
No thank you. I definitely wouldn’t appreciate that kind of situation.
3 people like this
@MarieCoyle (41253)
26 Feb
I really think the situation could have been handled with a bit more grace and dignity. I hope others learn from this.
1 person likes this
@rakski (133278)
• Philippines
26 Feb
No thank you, I will pass
1 person likes this
@rakski (133278)
• Philippines
27 Feb
1 person likes this
@MarieCoyle (41253)
27 Feb
It would just make pretty much anyone feel uncomfortable.
1 person likes this
@xFiacre (13228)
• Ireland
23h
@MarieCoyle I wonder why they didn’t just pop her back in her own seat. At least she wasn’t able to strike up a conversation with her new seat buddies. I’m sure they were pleased about that - have to look on the bright side.
1 person likes this
@MarieCoyle (41253)
19h
In this case, I think it may have been rather difficult to see a bright side. At least from the other passengers!
1 person likes this
@JudyEv (347097)
• Rockingham, Australia
27 Feb
That's a long time in such a situation. Pretty bizarre really.
1 person likes this
@JudyEv (347097)
• Rockingham, Australia
27 Feb
@MarieCoyle I guess if she was large, aisles are narrow and it might have been difficult to move her too far. However, even if it was difficult, it should have been achievable.
1 person likes this
@JudyEv (347097)
• Rockingham, Australia
27 Feb
@MarieCoyle Fair enough. It doesn't sound like they made much effort.
1 person likes this
@MarieCoyle (41253)
27 Feb
@JudyEv If they had empty seats like the article said they did, people could have been moved and she could have had a row to herself. That would have been a doable thing.
1 person likes this
@aninditasen (16762)
• Raurkela, India
27 Feb
I would have protested vehemently and filed a case against the airline authorities.
1 person likes this
@MarieCoyle (41253)
23h
I feel the same way. I'm not one to scream ''I'm going to sue!'' but this was not handled properly.
@Juliaacv (52265)
• Canada
26 Feb
That is very concerning. They should have better policies in place for something like this. It is disrespectful to the staff to have to care for something such as this, it is quite sensitive. It is disrespectful to the entire area of the plane that could witness this. It is an indecency to the deceased's body.
1 person likes this
@MarieCoyle (41253)
27 Feb
You covered it all, it is very disrespectful, and they should have a plan in place on flights.
1 person likes this
@wolfgirl569 (112115)
• Marion, Ohio
26 Feb
The couple should have been allowed to move at least
1 person likes this
@MarieCoyle (41253)
27 Feb
I think I would have just gotten up and moved. I mean...what are they going to do? Stop the plane? Nope.
1 person likes this
@RasmaSandra (82761)
• Daytona Beach, Florida
26 Feb
They certainly should have thought of something else to do. That was not fair and I would have protested to the point of screaming.
1 person likes this
@MarieCoyle (41253)
27 Feb
Well, screaming wouldn't help the situation, but hey...everyone reacts differently. I would have gotten up and insisted on taking another seat--they said there were some empty seats. They could have rearranged the people a bit to leave a row for the deceased lady to have to herself.
1 person likes this
@porwest (96697)
• United States
27 Feb
Yeah, that seems really off and inconsiderate to me. If there were empty seats with no other passengers that could have been used instead, that's where they should have put the body. I mean, typically on a plane I get a Chatty Kathy, so this would have been the quietest co-passenger ever. Still, I'd prefer Silent Betty to at least be breathing. lol
1 person likes this
27 Feb
Maybe I will feel a little unccmfortable but i would be able to handle it as long as there’s no smell or unsightly happening with the body. Gotta be careful witht the disease the body may carry.
1 person likes this
@MarieCoyle (41253)
27 Feb
I realize that the woman had to be put somewhere, but since there were other places to put her, I feel they made a poor choice.