According to the guidelines by the International Air Transport Association on dealing with deaths on board a flight, the deceased person should be moved to a seat, preferably one with few other passengers nearby, and covered with a blanket or body bag up to the neck. The body could also moved to another area that does not obstruct an aisle or exit.

An airline traveler has spoken of his shock after cabin staff sat him next to the body of a fellow passenger who had died during the flight.

An Australian couple on a Qatar Airways flight from Melbourne to Doha were seated next to the body of a deceased passenger for four hours.