A routine long-haul flight from Hong Kong to London turned into a grueling 13-hour ordeal for passengers and crew after a woman passed away shortly after takeoff.
LONDON – The incident occurred on Sunday, March 15, 2026, aboard British Airways flight BA32. The aircraft, an Airbus A350-1000 (registration G-XWBC), was carrying 331 passengers when the tragedy unfolded.
Chronology of the Incident
According to flight data, the aircraft pushed back from the gate at Hong Kong International Airport (HKG) at 11:07 PM, slightly behind its scheduled 10:45 PM departure. Approximately one hour into the flight, while cruising at 38,000 feet over Guiyang, China, a female passenger in her 60s was found unresponsive.
Despite the efforts of the cabin crew and medical volunteers on board, the woman could not be revived. Following international aviation protocols, the cockpit was notified. However, because a confirmed death is not legally classified as a “medical emergency” requiring an immediate diversion, the captain made the difficult decision to continue the journey to London Heathrow.
A Controversial Storage Decision
With the flight at 100% capacity, there were no empty seats to relocate the deceased passenger. Initial suggestions to place the body in a lavatory were reportedly rejected by the crew for safety and dignity reasons.
Instead, the body was wrapped in blankets and moved to the rear galley to be kept out of the direct sight of other passengers. However, an oversight led to further distress:
- The Heated Floor: The rear galley of the A350-1000 is equipped with a heated floor.
- The Consequence: Over the course of the remaining 12 hours of flight, the heat accelerated the natural decomposition process.
- Passenger Reports: As the plane crossed into European airspace, passengers in the rear cabin began reporting a “foul and pungent odor” emanating from the galley area.
Arrival and Investigation
The flight landed at London Heathrow (LHR) Terminal 5 at 4:46 AM on Monday, March 16—nearly 50 minutes ahead of schedule. Upon touchdown, the aircraft was met by police and medical authorities.
All 330 remaining passengers were required to stay in their seats for approximately 45 minutes while investigators processed the scene and removed the body. British Airways issued a statement expressing their condolences to the family, who were traveling with the woman at the time, and confirmed that “all procedures were correctly followed.”
Several crew members have reportedly been granted “trauma leave” following the event. The aircraft returned to service later that same day for a flight to Accra, Ghana.
