I can’t describe the shock on the faces of many people when I tell them that airlines transport dead bodies on their flights.
Today, people are more mobile than ever, which unfortunately means that many die far from their home countries or cities. These individuals must be repatriated to their chosen place of burial.
Statistically speaking, more than 450 Americans died abroad between January 2020 and January 2021, and over 700 died between January 2018 and January 2019. And that’s only in the U.S.
You can transport bodies by car, but that’s only feasible if the journey is short and within the same country. Many prefer to use an aeroplane as it’s faster and respects the dignity of the deceased. While most dead bodies are shipped on cargo planes, some are transported on passenger aeroplanes.
Handling of Dead Bodies (Human Remains):
Repatriation of human remains can be challenging and expensive. It requires extreme care and adherence to various regulations.
For airlines to transport dead bodies on their flights, the body must undergo special procedures. According to the IATA Airport Handling Manual (AHM 333):
- The human remains, if not cremated, must be packed in a hermetically sealed inner container, which may be made of flexible material or a rigid coffin of lead or zinc.
- The inner container must then be packed inside a wooden or metal coffin.
- The wooden or metal coffin may be protected from damage by outer packaging and covered by canvas or tarpaulin so that the nature of its contents is not apparent.
- Cremated remains must be shipped in funeral urns, which are efficiently cushioned by suitable packaging against breakage.
The airline transporting the human remains will have its own required documentation and restrictions, such as:
- Accompanying passengers must be on the same flight until the destination.
- Burial Permit.
- Certificate of death.
Etc…
Where do Airlines Transport Dead Bodies (Human Remains)?
Human remains are handled and loaded as ordinary cargo. There are a few precautions to take:
- For cremated human remains, ashes can be carried in your cabin bag, provided you have the necessary documents.
- Non-cremated human remains should not be loaded near foodstuffs, and the pilot in command should be informed of the presence of human remains on the flight.
- Airlines also segregate human remains from live animals in the cargo compartment due to ethical and cultural reasons.
It’s worth mentioning that some airlines, such as EasyJet, do not accept non-cremated human remains on their flights, only cremated remains.
Airlines Transporting Dead Bodies (Human Remains) – A Pilot Perspective:
As mentioned earlier, the pilot in command must be informed of the loading of human remains. This is done through a document provided by operations called NOTOC (Notification To Captain).
It gives the pilot in command accurate and legible information about dangerous goods carried as cargo. When reviewing the NOTOC, you’ll find information such as:
- The station of unloading.
- The airwaybill number.
- Loading position.
- The description.
In addition to a code. The code for dead bodies on the flight is HUM, meaning Human Remains. The captain needs to sign the NOTOC and pass it to the first officer to double-check and confirm.
Conclusion:
I hope this article gave you a hidden insight into the world of Aviation. Also, there’s nothing to be afraid of. I’ve operated many flights where we had human remains on board, and I can guarantee that no one rose from the dead and caused any problems, so don’t worry.
If you see a coffin being loaded into cargo, don’t shout or complain; remember that a family member might be sitting next to you, escorting their loved one to their final destination.
References:
European Air Transport Command. (2020). EATC Ground Operations Manual (EGOM). Retrieved April 2022, from https://eatc-mil.com/uploads/2017/Publications/EGOM%202020%209th%20public%20version.pdf
Griffiths, J. (2016, November 4). Your plane probably has a dead body on it… and 17 other truly weird things you never knew about your flight. The Sun. Retrieved April 2022, from https://www.thesun.co.uk/living/2120257/your-plane-could-have-a-dead-body-on-it-and-17-other-truly-weird-things-you-never-knew-about-your-flight/
IATA. (2011). Handling Of human Remains. In Airport handling Manual (31st ed., pp. 155–155).
IFALPA. (2018, November 4). NOTOCs. IFALPA. Retrieved April 2022, from https://alpajapan.org/cms_202105/wp-content/uploads/18POS16-notocs.pdf
Notoc. (n.d.). e-Learning CI. Retrieved from http://office-iy.blogspot.com/2014/02/notoc.html.
Thibeault, C. (2015, October 13). Transport of Human Remains. Retrieved April 2022, from https://www.icao.int/ESAF/Documents/meetings/2015/CAPSCA-AFRICA/Day%202%20Updated/IATA%20-%20Repatriation%20of%20bodies-Claude.pdf
U.S. Citizen Deaths Overseas. Travel.State.Gov. (n.d.). Retrieved April 2022, from https://travel.state.gov/content/travel/en/international-travel/while-abroad/death-abroad1/death-statistics.html
YouTube. (2014). How they transport dead bodies on a plane. Retrieved April 2022, from https://www.youtube.com/shorts/k5X5zGrUFzE.
