A female passenger in her 60s died shortly after takeoff on British Airways Flight BA32 from Hong Kong to London on Sunday. Following the death, her body was reportedly stored in a rear galley for the remainder of the 13.5-hour journey.
The woman passed away approximately one hour after the Airbus A350-1000 departed Hong Kong. Despite the tragedy, the pilots decided to continue the journey to Heathrow Airport rather than diverting or returning to the origin point, as a passenger death is typically not classified as a medical emergency.
Challenges in body storage
Crew members initially considered placing the body in a lavatory, but this option was rejected. Instead, the body was wrapped and moved to a rear galley. A source noted that while the family and crew were distraught and many wanted to return to Hong Kong, a death is not viewed as an emergency once it has occurred.
However, staff reportedly overlooked the fact that the galley floor was heated. This heat allegedly caused a pungent smell to develop and spread through the back of the cabin as the flight progressed toward London.
As the flight neared its destination, many of the 331 passengers and crew members reported a foul smell emanating from the rear section of the aircraft. Upon landing, police boarded the plane and required all passengers to remain seated for approximately 45 minutes while they conducted an investigation.
Airline response and industry guidelines
British Airways stated that all procedures were correctly followed during the incident. In a statement, the airline expressed its condolences to the family and friends of the deceased and confirmed it is supporting the crew members involved.
The International Air Transport Association (IATA) provides specific guidelines for handling deaths mid-flight. Typically, a body is placed in a body bag or covered with a blanket up to the neck. Efforts are made to move the deceased to a less conspicuous area, such as an empty seat or a separate section. If the flight is fully booked, the body may remain in its original seat.
A 2013 study in the New England Journal of Medicine indicated that deaths during flights are relatively rare, with only 0.3 percent of in-flight medical emergencies resulting in a fatality.
