Woman Dies Mid-Air, Passengers Spend 13 Hours With Body On British Airways Flight

Last Updated:March 22, 2026, 12:00 IST

A woman in her 60s died mid-air aboard a British Airways Flight. The body was moved to rear galley as crew follow IATA guidance and continued journey to London.

An elderly woman passed away mid-air aboard a British Airways flight from Hong Kong to London on Sunday. The passenger, in her 60s, died about an hour after British Airways Flight BA32, operated by an Airbus A350-1000, departed Hong Kong for Heathrow Airport.

Despite the incident, the flight continued to London rather than diverting, as a confirmed passenger death is generally not treated as a medical emergency requiring an immediate landing. Crew members initially discussed placing the body in a lavatory, but that option was ruled out. Instead, the remains were wrapped and moved to a rear galley area for the rest of the roughly 13.5-hour flight.

“Obviously, the family with the woman was distraught, and so was the crew. Many wanted to return to Hong Kong. But, to put it bluntly, if a passenger has already died, that is not viewed as an emergency," a source told Fox News.

Body Kept On Heated Gallery Of Plane

According to reports, the crew later realized that the galley floor was heated, which allegedly led to a strong odor developing in the back section of the aircraft as the flight continued. As the plane approached London, several of the 331 passengers and crew reported a foul smell coming from that part of the cabin.

After landing, police boarded the aircraft and passengers were asked to remain seated for about 45 minutes while authorities looked into the situation. The airline later said proper protocols were followed, stating, “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," the news outlet reported.

Guidance from the International Air Transport Association outlines how airlines should manage deaths during flights, including covering the body and, if possible, moving it to a discreet area. A 2013 study published in the New England Journal of Medicine found that deaths during flights are rare, accounting for about 0.3% of in-flight medical emergencies.

News world Woman Dies Mid-Air, Passengers Spend 13 Hours With Body On British Airways Flight

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