I saw this article, and I am just flabbergasted that it took so long for them to figure out what was going on... and I don't think anyone is sure, even yet?? This started at our airport here in Phoenix....

azspirit
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Dead Man Reportedly Boards Plane

Phoenix
March18, 2002 11:58 AM

By 3TV Staff

A man flying out of Sky Harbor International airport arrived in Iowa dead. Investigators are trying to pinpoint the time of his death.

James Mark Welsh, 80, was on a direct flight to Des Moines when he was found dead Saturday.

America West representatives say they believe Walsh was alive when they boarded the plane in Phoenix.

According to a medical examiner's report, Walsh's son, who was traveling with him, said he believes his dad died at the Phoenix airport.

It's not clear why the men boarded the plane.

Walsh apparently had a history of heart and kidney problems, and was in town to receive medical treatment.

The Federal Aviation Administration is investigating the matter.
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That's just truly bizarre.

It could be that the son believed his dad died while on the plane but at the airport. Maybe he didn't want to say anything at the time so they wouldn't stop the plane and cause delays. He may have been just trying to be considerate and figured no harm would come from announcing the death upon arrival at their destination.
Is that a crime?
If he was travelling from LA to Figi that would be awfull. =O

That could very well be it, I'm not sure what I'd do if my traveling partner died on me while in flight. That's just horrible to think about. What really could you do????

errrrrrr.... if that happened to me, I think I'd have to say something - tell a flight attendant - something! They may not need to land the plane ASAP because of it, but I'd just want someone to know! Poor guy. ='(

Kell

If he died in the airport before boarding, they were probably smart not to say anything until they got to LA - it ended up being the quickest, least expensive, and most dignified way to get him home. Think about it. Had anyone noticed that he'd passed or said anything, he would have been removed from the airport, taken to a morgue, investigated (possibly autopsied) - the kin would have had to contract a funeral home in AZ to arrange for shipment home (probably in a body bag in the cargo hole), the tickets they had already paid for may have not been refundable (they don't automatically refund those anymore even with a good excuse), which would also mean the purchase of new tickets to get themselves home (I don't know the family but when you're battleing some of these illnesses, it drains your bank accounts).

As it happened, the family could pretend he was still with them a little while, they got to supervise his trip home, and no one else on board were the wiser until they arrived. I just wish they had kept quiet about being suspicious that he'd passed on before boarding - they may now be facing some sort of criminal charges and some prosecutors have nothing better to do with their time nowadays than get get publicity with these types of unusual cases.

I think that you guys are probably right about the son just wanting to get his father home, without any hassles, delays or added expense. It is sad that this happened as it did, but I do think that it would be a very strange feeling to learn that I had flown on a plane with a dead passenger.... it's just kind of unsettling. But, the old fellow didn't have far to go to get to heaven! He was already above the clouds. And I hope his family was blessed with a peaceful closure to the long life of their loved one.

azspirit

I don't know but I think there are laws regarding the transporting of dead people. I really don't think the airline or airport would allow a dead person on board. No one could be sure of what he died of. A contagion? Lots of health issues.
The airport airline would in the least have to be suspicious that the corpse may be a carrier for a disease that is trying to be spread by terrorist and he died of it prematurely. Despite what the man testified to. There is just so much possible risk taking a corpse aboard and airplane.
And if I remember correctly you need special permits to transport a dead person on an airplane(in a casket and all).

I think you take a risk of contracting a contagious desease any time that you fly because the air inside is recycled. Also, any person on board could be a carrier and I would think a live person would be more dangerous because they are putting more toxin in the air with every breath. I'm not even sure the airlines can deny you access because you are ill. If the old guy was asleep when he passed, his eyes would have been closed and no one could tell just by looking that he had gone on - the nails don't always turn blue (my Dad's did but they returned back to pink about 15 minutes after he'd passed).

My deceased grandmother was flown from Ohio to West Virginia in a body bag inside a wooden crate on a cargo plane. The cause of death was determined before her body was released from the state but because she was living in Ohio at the time and she was seeing a doctor for a terminal illness, all they did was sign off on the certificate (no autopsy).