When considering the unsettling thought of someone dying mid-flight, it’s important to understand the procedures that airlines follow. Ben Vos, a mortuary coordinator at Schiphol Airport, shared insights with CNN about handling such situations.
Upon landing, after all passengers have left the plane, Vos, along with a border control representative and a coroner, boards the aircraft to assess the situation. The deceased passenger is then respectfully placed into a body bag and discreetly removed through an emergency exit, ensuring privacy for the deceased and their companions.
Schiphol Airport in The Netherlands houses a specialized mortuary facility. Vos and his team work closely with a network of professionals, including doctors, airline staff, and religious figures, to manage death certificates, customs declarations, and offer support to grieving families from various religious backgrounds.
The facility at Schiphol is equipped to handle repatriations, receiving deceased travelers from other countries and preparing others for transport out of the Netherlands. They have coffins available for this purpose. This service, known as repatriation of mortal remains (RMR), is typically covered by travel insurance, which should be verified ahead of travel, especially if you have existing medical conditions.
Vos emphasizes the importance of travel insurance, advising travelers to obtain it before embarking on international trips.
A former flight attendant, Mandy Smith, shared with LADbible her experiences and the procedures followed when a passenger dies on a flight. She explained that in the past, deceased passengers might have been moved to the bathroom for privacy, but this could complicate matters if rigor mortis set in.
Nowadays, the protocol involves laying the body across seats, covering it with blankets, and trying to calm the loved ones, while discreetly sectioning off the area. Smith noted that it would not necessitate an emergency landing but would be treated as a normal landing, with ground services like an ambulance or coroner waiting upon arrival.