‘Foul smell’ on British Airways flight after dead body left in heated galley

23 Mar 2026 • 9:35 PM MYT
The Independent
The Independent

The world’s most free-thinking newspaper

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  • A woman in her 60s sadly passed away shortly after take-off on a British Airways flight from Hong Kong to London Heathrow on 15 March.
  • The deceased's body was stored in a heated galley at the rear of the aircraft, leading to complaints from passengers about a 'foul smell' towards the end of the 14-hour journey.
  • A source revealed that a suggestion to place the body in a toilet was rejected by the crew, resulting in its isolation and placement in the galley.
  • International Air Transport Association (IATA) guidelines recommend moving a deceased person to an isolated seat or an area that does not obstruct an aisle.
  • Police met flight BA32 upon its arrival at Heathrow, causing a 45-minute delay for the 331 passengers, while British Airways confirmed all procedures were correctly followed.

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