Tributes flow for student who died on Qantas flight at Melbourne Airport

A Melbourne student with dreams of becoming a chef has died on a Qantas flight, hours before she was due to visit family in India for the first time in four years.

Manpreet Kaur had dreams of becoming a chef.

A young Melbourne student with dreams of becoming a chef has died on an international flight, hours before she was due to visit family for the first time in four years.

Manpreet Kaur, 24, was on a Qantas aircraft from Melbourne to Delhi when she required medical assistance shortly after she boarded on June 20.

The plane was still attached to the gate when cabin crew and emergency services rushed to help her.

Ms Kaur’s friend Gurdip Grewal told the Herald Sun she was feeling unwell hours before arriving at Melbourne Airport.

Ms Kaur moved to Melbourne in 2020.

“When she got on the plane, she was struggling to put her seatbelt on,” he said.

“Just before her flight started, she fell in front of her seat and died on the spot.”

It’s believed Ms Kaur died of tuberculosis, an infectious disease that mostly affects the lungs.

Ms Kaur’s roommate, Kuldeep, said her friend worked at Australia Post but was studying cookery as she had aspirations of becoming a chef.

“She was kind and honest,” she said.

“She loved to travel with her friends around Victoria.”

The 24-year-old is believed to have died of tuberculosis.

Ms Kaur was returning to India to see her parents for the first time since moving to Australia in March 2020.

A GoFundMe page, created by Mr Grewal, has raised more than $24,000 for Ms Kaur’s family.

“Our dear friend Manpreet left us too soon, leaving a void in our lives that can never be filled,” he wrote.

“As we grieve her passing, we want to come together to honour her memory and support her family in their time of need.”

A Qantas spokesperson said: “Our thoughts are with her family and friends”.

A Coroners Court spokeswoman said Ms Kaur’s death was under investigation.

“The death of Manpreet Kaur is under investigation by the coroner,” she said.

“As this investigation is ongoing, no further comment can be made.”