Passenger speaks after woman dies next to him on Qantas flight

The passenger who sat next to a 24-year-old Melbourne woman who died suddenly on a Qantas flight has spoken about her final moments.

The passenger who sat next to a young Melbourne woman who died on a Qantas flight has spoken about her final moments before passing away – and has a poignant message for her parents.

Manpreet Kaur, who had dreams of becoming a chef, boarded the aircraft ready to fly from Melbourne to the Indian city of Delhi on June 20.

It was going to be the first time she would see her family in four years, but sadly, she never made it.

Manpreet Kaur tragically died on a Qantas flight. Picture: Supplied

The 24-year-old student reportedly “felt unwell” hours before arriving at the airport but managed to board the flight without any issues.

However, just before the plane was going to take off, she died suddenly in her seat.

The aircraft went back to the gate where emergency services and cabin crews tried to save her life. Sadly, it was too late.

Now the man who sat next to Ms Kaur has spoken about her final moments in the hope to bring her parents some comfort during this unimaginable time.

“I was sitting next to her on the Qantas flight from Melbourne to Delhi and was actually the last person to talk to her,” Ravinder Singh exclusively told news.com.au.

“When I boarded the plane, she was already seated in the aisle. I was in the window, so I asked if she could please get up so I could occupy my seat.

Do you know more or have a story? Email [e-mail]

Ms Kaur was going home to visit family for the first time in four years. Picture: Supplied

“I noticed that she began scrolling through photos on her mobile phone and stopped at a photograph of an elderly couple.

“I asked if they were her parents. She smiled and nodded and kept staring at it.”

Mr Singh, who had been in Australia to visit family, said that everything seemed fine and the plane eventually began moving towards the runway, ready for take off.

He explained that Ms Kaur had put her phone down and rested her head on the seat in front. It was then he realised something was not right.

“She was wearing her seatbelt and leaned forward to rest her head on the seat in front. As the plane was preparing for takeoff, I wanted to alert her to sit upright,” he shared.

“But the plane jerked and I expected her to wake up. But instead, her head just moved towards me.

“I got the attention of a flight attention and told her that this woman does not seem very well. She checked her pulse and after that, the reaction of the cabin crew was very commendable.

“They tried their best to revive her. She was then evacuated by medical staff.”

Mr Singh was the last person to speak with her. Picture: Supplied to News.com.au

The retired army officer said the incident still “haunts him” and he wants her parents to know that she “left the world peacefully”.

“The incident has been etched in my memory for life,” he said.

“It is very difficult to digest that a young girl with whom you were just interacting with has passed away in front of your eyes.

“Her innocent face stills haunts me and I want her parents to know she loved them a lot. She left this world peacefully looking at their photograph.

“My heart breaks for her family who would have been looking forward to seeing her after a long time.”

It is understood that Ms Kaur likely died of tuberculosis, an infectious disease that mostly affects the lungs, according to the Herald Sun.

Her roommate, Kuldeep, said Ms Kaur had worked at Australia Post while studying cookery, with dreams of one day becoming a chef.

A GoFundMe has been created to help her family. Picture: Supplied

“She was kind and honest,” she told the outlet.

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

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

A GoFundMe page has been created for Ms Kaur to help her family.

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

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

“As we say our final goodbyes, every contribution, big or small, brings us closer to our goal. Your support means the world to us and Manpreet’s family.”

A Qantas spokesperson told news.com.au that their “thoughts are with her family and loved ones”.

Mr Singh commended the actions of the Qantas cabin crew and emergency services. Picture: iStock

Ms Kaur was from Dharampura, located in India’s northern Mansa district.

Her cousin and roommate Kuldeep toldDaily Mail Australia that her health had worsened over the last few months as she unknowingly suffered from tuberculosis.

“She had difficulty talking and during that last week she had no energy to do anything and was just lying in bed,” Kuldeep said.

The post-mortem confirmation of tuberculosis means that her body cannot be transported out of the country.

Instead, her parents are applying for visas so they can fly to Australia and attend her funeral, the outlet reported.

Victoria’s Department of Health said it had begun limited contact tracing the following day, and anyone identified as a potential risk would be notified.

[e-mail]