Have you ever wondered what happens if someone dies on a flight? While it’s not something anyone likes to think about, it’s important to know what to expect if such an unfortunate event does occur.
According to a flight attendant and TikTok user, @danidboyy1, if someone dies unexpectedly on a flight, the crew will try to get immediate medical help. However, if the passenger is declared dead, the situation becomes more complicated.
“Cabin crew cannot legally declare someone dead, so if the captain decides to not divert the plane, the body will remain on the aircraft until they have reached their final destination,” @danidboyy1 explained. “If there is space the body may be moved to an empty row of seats or to a different galley or cabin, but if the flight is full, the passenger will stay in their original seat until they have reached their destination.”
Another flight attendant, speaking to Business Insider, said that they would usually put a blanket over the deceased person to preserve their dignity and maintain respect for them. “You want to maintain dignity and respect for someone who passed away. You don’t want anyone staring at them…that would be really sad,” the attendant said.
Passengers have also shared their experiences of what happens when someone dies on a flight. One traveler recounted a situation where a woman had stopped breathing on an 11-hour flight from Frankfurt to Singapore.
The woman’s immediate neighbors were allocated new seats, and the body was laid across the row of seats. Once it was determined that nothing could be done, the woman’s body was covered with a sheet (but not her face), and the flight continued as normal.
While it may be a difficult topic to discuss, it’s important to understand what happens if someone dies on a flight. Knowing the procedures can help to alleviate some of the anxiety and uncertainty that can arise during such a tragic situation.
@danidboyy1 ⛔️Trigger warning⚠️ This video may contain distressing content #cabincrew #aviation #airline #didyouknow #flightattendants