What happens when someone dies on a plane?

[Danger Phoenix]

My friends and I were just discussing about what happens to a body and the plane when a person dies on a plane...

I was saying that after the person has been confirmed dead, and if the plane is completely full they would put the body in the hold. If there is space on the plane, they would move people forwards and put you right at the back somewhere, out of sight. Lastly, they would divert the plane to the nearest airport.

My friend was saying that they would never put you in the hold or something because it would be rude...

What do they actually do?

 

[Danger Phoenix]

Because it's always "rumped"?

Mr Don, please stick to the topic

 

[Danger Phoenix]

They wouldn't put you in the hold you crazy person. If there were no seats whatsoever they'd put you by the crew seats.

They'd also divert long before 'pronouncing you dead'.

My housemate was saying that if he was dying he would request to be flown to India... and I said that airlines may refuse to fly you.

Anyways, when you coming up to Warwick?

 

[Danger Phoenix]

The body would be put into a seat and strapped in with the seatbelt, straps and duck tape.

I was controlling a flight inbound from Tokyo to Heathrow about a fortnight ago. It was really busy with inbound delays at about 25-40 minutes. The pilot of the aircraft declared what is known as a "Medical Pan", i.e. a state of urgency as a passenger on board had taken a heart attack and needed to be on the ground ASAP to stand any chance of surviving. A doctor on board said that the plane needed to be on the ground within 10 minutes.

So, we bust a gut to weave this plane through all the others that were holding to get it on the ground ASAP but half way there the pilot cancelled the Pan and informed us that the passenger had died. This has happened to me about 3 or 4 times and on some occasions the aircraft have had to hold to give the cabin crew time to strap the corpse into the seat.

If a passenger dies in the air, the airport authority at the destination has to be informed and landing clearance is usually witheld until the airport authority approves it, the reason being issues such as facilities to handle a dead body and also quarantine.

If the passenger dies, the aircraft will usually continue to destination as a diversion is extremely costly to the airline. This may change if the flight is 12 hours or something but for most short/medium haul, a diversion won't be initiated unless the passenger is still alive but in need of immediate life saving medical attention.

What happens if the plane is completely full and there are no long seats to lie the body onto?

Also, do they carry body bags on the plane?

 

[Danger Phoenix]

in that instance make sure you REALLY dont have the beef !!

Would you mind doing me a favour and holding the power button down on your computer?