British Airways cabin crew told to put dead bodies in first class, not toilets
British Airways cabin crew are told to put dead bodies in first class spare seats instead of toilets, according to a new documentary.
The revelations were made in an upcoming BBC2 programme called A Very British Airline.
The documentary is an access-all-areas look at the airline, and includes footage from inside a training session for flight attendants being schooled on what to do when someone passes away on board.
According to the Mirror, the lead trainer said: "You cannot put a dead passenger in the toilet. It's not respectful and it's not strapped in for landing.
"If they slid off the toilet, they would end up on the floor. You would have to take the aircraft apart to get that person out. Imagine putting someone in the aircraft toilet?"
The Independent reports that she added the airline used to take a Weekend at Bernie's-style approach, by propping dead passengers up in their seats and pretending they were asleep.
She said: "It's what we used to do many years ago – give them a vodka and tonic... and eye-shades and they were like, they're fine. We don't do that."
Cabin crew are told they cannot put dead bodies in toilets because after rigor mortis sets in, it is very difficult to remove a body from a small space.
The three-part series looks at how BA's 40,000 staff work to meet the airline standards.
According to the Daily Mail, the first episode looks at London Heathrow Terminal Five, which incudes a spa and Champagne bar for those flying first class.
It follows the training of new recruits Alice, Patrick, and Jodi, and starts on Monday 2 June on BBC2 at 9pm.
Related articles
Woman sits next to corpse on long-haul flight after fellow passenger dies
Woman sits next to boyfriend's dead body for nine hours after he 'chokes on in-flight meal'
