Refund for Swedish woman forced to sit near corpse during Air Kenya flight

[whatmeworry]

Lena Pettersson Forced To Sit Near a Corpse on Kenya Airways International Flight - International Business Times

 

[rechoboam]

Lena Pettersson Forced To Sit Near a Corpse on Kenya Airways International Flight - International Business Times

I can't see that she should be entitled to anything although it's a nice gesture.

But I wonder what liability the airline has for the death? If he was doing that before takeoff there are numerous treatable causes that could be responsible and prompt medical attention might have saved his life.

 

[Happy Trails]

I can't see that she should be entitled to anything although it's a nice gesture.

But I wonder what liability the airline has for the death? If he was doing that before takeoff there are numerous treatable causes that could be responsible and prompt medical attention might have saved his life.

According to this article they seem to have done the right thing:

The Observer - Kenya Airways responds to onboard corpse scandal

Below is Kenya Airway's press release response to the corpse scandal.
Kenya Airways would like to issue this clarification following reports in sections of the media that a passenger was allegedly forced to fly next to a corpse.
Kenya Airways confirms that a passenger passed away on-board KQ117 from Amsterdam and below is the chronology of events:
The passenger was visibly ill on boarding the aircraft and the Cabin Crew paged for a doctor. There were 3 doctors on board including a Dutch Medical Professor, the doctors examined the passenger, gave him treatment and certified him fit to fly.
On these instructions, the Captain then made the decision to fly with the late passenger to Nairobi. About 2hours into the flight the Passenger condition worsened and the 3 doctors again checked on him and advised the captain to land at the nearest airport. The Captain immediately made arrangements to divert and make an emergency landing in Rome or Cairo.
Unfortunately the passenger passed away while the landing arrangements were being made. The Captain followed the laid down procedures as per the company’s policy. He informed all the relevant authorities as per the Kenya Civil Aviation regulations.
The cabin crew moved passengers from row 46 where the body was to make space as per the Company policy. The aircraft Boeing 777 was full, 24 passengers in Business and 296 passengers. Efforts were made to move passengers from row 46 to the four empty seats in Business class that weren’t occupied.
Unfortunately two passengers across the aisle could not be moved due to the full flight. We wish to point out that Kenya Airways upholds the highest standards in all operations and crew adhere to all procedures relating to such occurrences on board, indeed the three medical doctors on board were full of praise for the professionalism, compassion and understanding displayed by the cabin crew

 

[mannej]

"Of course it was unpleasant," Pettersson told The Local, "But I am not a person who makes a fuss."

Sure she isn't...

What are the motives behind highlighting it to the media?

Oh wait...indeed.

It is a tough one, as I am not sure what the options are on a full flight like that.

 

[moa999]

Am sure it happens a bit, and on a really fully flight someone might actually need to "sit next to" rather than just sit near, across the aisle.

 

[Happy Trails]

Am sure it happens a bit, and on a really fully flight someone might actually need to "sit next to" rather than just sit near, across the aisle.

Looking on the bright side though, you'd get full use of the shared armrest.

 

[rechoboam]

According to this article they seem to have done the right thing:

The Observer - Kenya Airways responds to onboard corpse scandal

Below is Kenya Airway's press release response to the corpse scandal.
Kenya Airways would like to issue this clarification following reports in sections of the media that a passenger was allegedly forced to fly next to a corpse.
Kenya Airways confirms that a passenger passed away on-board KQ117 from Amsterdam and below is the chronology of events:
The passenger was visibly ill on boarding the aircraft and the Cabin Crew paged for a doctor. There were 3 doctors on board including a Dutch Medical Professor, the doctors examined the passenger, gave him treatment and certified him fit to fly.
On these instructions, the Captain then made the decision to fly with the late passenger to Nairobi. About 2hours into the flight the Passenger condition worsened and the 3 doctors again checked on him and advised the captain to land at the nearest airport. The Captain immediately made arrangements to divert and make an emergency landing in Rome or Cairo.
Unfortunately the passenger passed away while the landing arrangements were being made. The Captain followed the laid down procedures as per the company’s policy. He informed all the relevant authorities as per the Kenya Civil Aviation regulations.
The cabin crew moved passengers from row 46 where the body was to make space as per the Company policy. The aircraft Boeing 777 was full, 24 passengers in Business and 296 passengers. Efforts were made to move passengers from row 46 to the four empty seats in Business class that weren’t occupied.
Unfortunately two passengers across the aisle could not be moved due to the full flight. We wish to point out that Kenya Airways upholds the highest standards in all operations and crew adhere to all procedures relating to such occurrences on board, indeed the three medical doctors on board were full of praise for the professionalism, compassion and understanding displayed by the cabin crew

I have no problem with the fact that a corpse in flight has to be left somewhere.

However if a patient is visibly ill on boarding it should not be left up to random doctors to tell the airline what to do. Someone sick enough to make the cabin crew suspicious is too sick to fly. No destination is important enough to risk your life as happened here.

The fact that he was a "professor" may, no offense, have made things worse. I think a trainee probably deals with these things more often, Professor of what exactly?
If I were asked I would always say "offload", there is everything to lose and nothing to gain by pronouncing fit to fly. I dont even know if the normal protections would apply.

I have no particular criticism of the airline other than the CC need to rely on the ground medical team in these cases.

 

[docjames]

FWIW - I'd be very hesitant confirming someone as "fit to fly" when they take ill sitting on the ground immediately prior to tkaeoff. I'd be advising them to de-board and seek a formal medical consultation.

jb747's opinion on this would be interesting - but my guess would be "offload" prior to flight. And my understanding is that it's the pilots call (at least on QF anyway) - the on-board doctor can give advice, but final decision actually rests with the Captain. I'm guessing also the "three doctors" will be speaking to their MDOs about potential liability (if they havent already done so!).

From the airline's account, the post-death sounds about as well handled as feasible.

The real unanswered question from what's been released is how/why they made the decision to allow the person to fly. And I suppose that depends on the nature of what illness they dead pax suffered on the ground pre-takeoff.

 

[Maca44]

Trust the Swedish to complain...There is one Bjorn every day :mrgreen:

 

[Hvr]

Looking on the bright side though, you'd get full use of the shared armrest.

And he'd be dead quiet for the remainder of the trip.