As a result, five Australian women are now in a position to sue Qatar Airways. That follows an extremely traumatizing experience in 2020 when they were removed from a flight at the last minute and subjected to unnecessary physical examinations at Hamad International Airport in Doha. This lawsuit comes on the heels of a recent incident that provoked worldwide outrage. A baby girl left abandoned at the airport initiated a needed but controversial manhunt for her mother.
The near-miss on October 2, 2020, happened as Qatar Airways Flight 908 was approaching Sydney. After she was reported missing, police found her newborn baby, very much alive but wrapped in plastic and buried in the trash. Consequently, they booted thirteen lady travelers off of the plane. The Qatari government asserted that these invasive physical exams were required in the effort to find the baby’s mother. Yet the manner in which airport authorities have gone about this has faced heavy public backlash, and now that backlash has morphed into official lawsuits.
This five women–plaintiff suit seeks to change that. They are suing Qatar Airways, MATAR—the airport operator—and the Qatar Civil Aviation Authority (QCAA), with Marque Lawyers acting for them. They are seeking charges of negligent infliction of emotional distress, assault, false imprisonment and battery. MATAR and QCAA are being held accountable for their participation in the invasive investigations.
In Australia, a federal court just upheld the women’s appeal. This ruling makes it possible for their case against Qatar Airways to proceed. Specifically, Article 17 of the Montreal Convention makes carriers liable for damages. They have to pay through the nose for any death or injury incurred by their passengers within the duration of their trip.
Damian Sturzaker, a lawyer for the women in front of Justice Dove, told the court that they were relieved by its ruling.
“Our clients are thrilled with the outcome.” – Damian Sturzaker from Marque Lawyers
He did a powerful job of explaining how the event continues to affect his clients months later.
“They do genuinely continue to bear the scars of not only what happened on that evening, but the fact that there’s been no apology, that there’s been no compensation, and that the case has been fought over a number of years by a series of state entities.” – Damian Sturzaker from Marque Lawyers
The invasive, traumatic examinations were said to have occurred in humiliating and alarming settings. Sturzaker went on to explain how the women were handled once they were forced off the flight.
“(Our clients) were taken off the plane at gunpoint to an ambulance that was under the wing of the plane, where our group was subjected to invasive physical examinations being put back on the plane.” – Sturzaker
It diverted the equivalent of up to ten flights worth of women who were forced to stand in their wake. Currently, the Qatari prosecutor has called charges against an undisclosed number of airport security personnel tasked with conducting these invasive examinations.
In 2019, Australia’s then-foreign minister, Marise Payne, criticized the actions of Qatari officials. This incident has raised international alarm regarding women’s rights in Qatar, where fornication remains a criminal offense.
With that legal battle now heating up, Sturzaker remains upbeat. They remain squarely concentrated on collecting more evidence to strengthen their possible case against Qatar Airways and MATAR.
“We anticipate that there will be further evidence that strengthens the group’s case against Qatar Airways and MATAR.” – Sturzaker
The women are hoping to hold the city accountable and get justice for their traumatic molestation. They are anticipating that case will proceed to trial in 2018. This result would have a profound effect on each individual directly involved. Not only that, it might transform airline and airport operations across the globe.
