A married couple was forced to sit on a plane next to a dead passenger during a long-haul flight (2 photos + 1 video)
Death on an airplane is a rare occurrence, considering the millions of passengers who travel by air every day. Although it is rare, airlines have strict protocols in place to ensure the safety and comfort of other passengers. However, one Australian couple has reported being forced to sit next to a dead passenger on a long-haul flight. 
Mitchell Ring and Jennifer Colin were on a Qatar Airways flight from Melbourne to Venice when the woman suddenly collapsed in the aisle after using the toilet.
Although the crew tried to save her, she later died on the plane. With hours to go before the plane landed, the dilemma soon became what the flight attendants should do with the body and where to place it until the proper authorities arrived.
Ring told the publication: "The staff were there in no time and I patted them on the back, they did a great job trying to revive her. It happened right next to me in the aisle and they did everything they could but unfortunately she couldn't be saved and it was very painful to watch. They went to try to move her, they got a chair, put her down and tried to take her to business class. But she was quite a big woman and they couldn't get her through the aisle."
When the cabin crew noticed empty seats on either side of the couple, they asked the couple to move over to make room and placed the body next to them on the seat the man had previously occupied, covering her with a blanket. This left the couple in a terrible situation for the next four hours of the flight to Doha. 
According to the couple, the cabin crew did not offer them a seat further away from the body. Luckily, one woman invited Jennifer to sit in her row so she could keep her distance from the body for the rest of the flight.
Ring claimed that on arrival in Doha they were forced to sit next to the woman's body as police and medics boarded the plane, and Ring saw the woman's face as they began to remove blankets from her.
He added: "I was there and I saw her face... it was not pleasant."
Even after the flight, the couple claimed that Qatar Airways failed to offer them emotional support after the "traumatic" experience: "They have a duty of care to their customers and also their staff, they should be contacting us to see if you need support or counselling. I don't know how I feel and I would like to talk to someone to make sure I am OK."
The couple are currently in Venice on holiday, with Coleen saying she is "trying to make the most of it and have a good time."
Qatar Airways responded to the incident, saying: "Our first thoughts are with the family of the passenger who sadly died on board our flight. We apologise for any inconvenience or distress this incident may have caused and are in the process of communicating with the passengers."
The airline added that the incident is under investigation.
