Police in New Zealand have launched an investigation into the "sudden death" of a woman during an overnight Qantas flight from the United States to Auckland. The passenger died on the first leg of flight QF4, a lengthy 17-hour journey from New York's JFK Airport to Sydney, with a stopover in Auckland, on Monday evening.
Emergency Response on Arrival
Emergency services were dispatched to meet the Boeing 787-9 Dreamliner upon its arrival in New Zealand. A spokesperson for Auckland police confirmed that officers attended a "sudden death, which occurred on an inbound Qantas flight from New York to Auckland overnight." The statement was reported by the New Zealand news outlet Stuff.
The police added that inquiries are being conducted into the woman's death on behalf of the coroner, as is standard procedure in such cases.
Qantas Responds to the Tragedy
A Qantas spokesperson expressed condolences, stating: "Medical assistance was provided to a passenger onboard QF4 on Monday by crew and doctors onboard. Our thoughts are with the passenger's family and loved ones." The airline has not released further details about the passenger's identity or the circumstances surrounding the death.
The Independent has reached out to Auckland Airport for additional comment regarding the incident.
Recent Similar Incident on British Airways
This tragic event follows a similar occurrence last month on a British Airways flight. Passengers on a 14-hour flight from Hong Kong to London Heathrow complained of a "foul smell" after a woman in her 60s died shortly after takeoff on 15 March.
Following the decision to store the body in a heated galley towards the rear of the plane, passengers reported detecting a bad odour. A source told The Sun that the family and several crew members were "distraught" following the incident.
The source added: "A discussion was had about what to do with the body, with the flight deck's request to lock it in a toilet rejected by crew."
A British Airways spokesperson said: "A customer sadly passed away on board, and our thoughts are with their family and friends at this difficult time. We are supporting our crew, and all procedures were correctly followed."
These incidents highlight the challenges airlines face in handling medical emergencies and fatalities during long-haul flights, where access to immediate medical facilities is limited.
