"I Don't See Dead People" Regulation Aimed At Easing Onboard Concerns

ANN 04.01.07 SPECIAL EDITION: The proliferation of recent stories of people who have passed away during commercial airline flights -- and have then been moved to unexpected places onboard -- brings the most popular line from the 1999 movie "The Sixth Sense" -- "I see dead people" -- to a whole new level.

In response to these recent publicized occurrences, a new rule for US airlines will be implemented July 1, 2007 relegating the deceased to an airplane's cargo bay, in the same area where pets are housed. Each aircraft will have, as SOP, a simple casket available for the unexpected, according to the Airline Transport Association (ATA).

Views, naturally, are mixed on this announcement.

"I am glad that this is being done," said one recent first-class passenger, who awoke from a nap onboard a British Airways flight to see the previously-vacant seat next to her being occupied by a dead passenger from coach class.

A view from the other side (no, not THAT 'other side') comes from a grieving second cousin twice removed -- whose second cousin twice removed, if he had passed away after this new rule, would be among the canine cargo.

"It's an insult to the family that a person in that condition (dead) would be taken from the cabin. Having that person remain onboard would give fellow travelers a chance to grieve, if you turn off the multi-media at each seat. Um, I do like the idea of a casket, just in case."

Both the ATA and Air Line Pilots Association (ALPA) have backed this new rule.

"We want to ensure that our passengers have the best onboard experience possible. Having people recently deceased onboard does not enhance that experience," said one ALPA member.

FMI: www.airlines.org/canwestillchargedeadpassengersfortheflight