Travelers were left in disbelief after news emerged about a passenger’s death on a long-haul flight, with her body kept in a cooking compartment for over 13 hours.
The unfortunate event took place on British Airways Flight BA32 traveling from Hong Kong to London last Sunday, shortly after takeoff. According to reports, the airline opted to continue to Heathrow rather than turn back. A source indicated that the Airbus A350-1000’s galley had heated flooring, and there were reports of an “unusual odor” noted by passengers by the end of the flight.
“The family was understandably heartbroken, and the crew members were affected too,” the source mentioned. “A lot of passengers expressed desire to return to Hong Kong, but since the individual had already passed, it didn’t qualify as an emergency by some standards.”
British Airways responded by stating that their crew adhered to all necessary protocols. They expressed condolences, saying, “Sadly, a passenger passed away on board. Our thoughts are with her family and friends during this difficult time. We’re providing support to our crew, and all procedures were followed properly.”
Reports suggested that there was a deliberation on how to handle the body, with crew members reportedly declining a suggestion to place it in the cabin toilet. Consequently, the body was isolated, wrapped, and moved to the galley located at the back of the aircraft, an area that was notably warm.
After landing, police instructed all 331 passengers to stay seated for approximately 45 minutes while they conducted an investigation into the incident.
While British Airways claimed there were no official complaints regarding the situation, some passengers reportedly took time off work to recover from the unsettling experience.
