Death in-flight

[Needa]

Hi,

Is there an international legislation regarding death in-flight procedure? (ICAO document or annex or FAA or EU regulation)

If not, any national CAA rule? Or company procedure?

When shall the flight return to base/departure airport, or divert to nearest airport, or continue to destination?

Thank you

[average-punter]

I think it varies from company to company. I remember being told in my new entrant training that the best place for them was in the toilet.

That decision is down to the Captain, to be honest if they are already dead diverting seems pretty pointless. I imagine the usual scenario would be that they are in distress, be it by a heart attack or similar, which would warrant an immediate diversion then they passed away before landing.

As a passenger I certainly wouldn't want to be sat next to a corpse!

[mad_jock]

problem is for the skipper unless you have someone on board that can certify them as dead they are still alive even if stiff as a plank, so you have to act as if they are alive and get them to medical attention as quickly as possible.

Which might not be in the interests of some family's to be honest who might want them at destination so they don't have to get the body home.

There is a story out there of a crew loading an old bloke who was with his son. Son Chucked him in his seat and said he was fine just sleeping. The across water regional flight went ahead.

On landing crew got off and as you do caught up with pax in the arrivals hall just as son and dad were coming out to meet sister. Who turned out to be a doctor.

"When did he go?" she said while taking a neck pulse.
"In the taxi on the way to the airport" was the reply.

[Laarbruch72]

Can't see that happening Madjock, have you ever tried to move a corpse, even ten yards let alone onto an aircraft? It's just about possible, with a lot of huffing and puffing and the help of another able bodied person, but it's not dignified or convincing. I think someone's been watching "Weekend at Bernie's" too much.

[mad_jock]

Unfortunately yes I have had that experience.

Including having to break the rigamortis to get them out the door. But they were on the freight manifest not pax.

Completely the wrong aircraft for the job, double bagged strapped down in the gangway. But we got them home within 24hours so the family was happy how ever we managed it.

And if they died in a chair going through security you would have 3 hours for them to go stiff and they are stiff warmish for about 5 hours. And old codgers aren't the warmest to touch anyway. And lets face it I have lifted old folk onto the plane in my arms some the emergency door feels heavier than.

Yes yes I know we shouldn't but when the wind is to high for the ambilift and you have been flying the old dear to her hospital appointments for leukaemia for the last 6 months and her stomach feeder is leaking and she needs an op and you get a big kiss and a smile for making it work needs must.

Never had one go mid flight though. I still have the paperwork from the repatriations though. Was never told what to do with it at the other end once they had been signed over.

[keyboard flier]

Are there any stats as to how many inflight deaths occur each year?

[mad_jock]

Never seen any.

You might be able to get a FOI form the CAA from G reg aircraft.

[throw a dyce]

I was on a TCX flight Gatwick to Dalaman as a passenger, and an old guy passed out obviously very ill.The crew and a nurse helped him,but he then took a massive heart attack.The crew/nurse started CPR and we diverted to Izmir.After landing the Turkish doctor and paramedics worked on him for 50 mins in the aisle but couldn't save him.Eventually they removed the corpse to an ambulance,and after a lot of paperwork we carried on to Dalaman.The dead guys wife stayed on the aircraft as she was being met by her family.
The TCX crew and nurse did a superb job trying to save him,but everyone was just in shock.A very upsetting experience for everyone.

[clunckdriver]

In our country if the person is declared dead in flight then the aircraft is tied up untill a coroner certifies death, so we dont ever state they are indeed dead untill the body is out the door, bizare I know, but thats the way it is.

[BaronChotzinoff]

Wouldn't have thought diverting would do any good - you'll never make them smile, no matter how hard you try ...

[ian16th]

Any legal considerations as to when and in which country the death is considered to have happened?

Wasn't some very wealthy guy, who was nominally British, shipped to Spain to die, as this was beneficial for tax reasons?

[The Moo]

No shocks from defib you carry on to destination . If its ( no pun intended ) shocking divert.