Qatar Airways machine in Doha (archive picture): Apparently women were brought into a cellar by security personnel
Photo: STRINGER / AFP
The past few months have gone comparatively well for the Arab airline Qatar Airways despite the corona pandemic.
While other companies like Lufthansa had to reduce their offer to just over 20 percent of the original capacity, the state airline of the emirate of Qatar still offers around 40 percent of its seats.
At the moment, however, the trust customers have given us is being put to the test.
This shows a process that is said to have taken place on October 2nd at the Qatar hub in Doha - and would have been a nightmare if it actually happened as the Australian "Guardian" and several local newspapers and aviation forums describe .
Examined abdomen and vagina without consent
Accordingly, a newborn baby should have been found that day at the airport.
A spokeswoman for Hamad International Airport assured SPIEGEL that the child was immediately given medical care and that his identity was not yet clear.
Out of concern for "the health and well-being of the mother", an attempt was made, on the advice of the doctors, to find out whether the newly born woman was sitting in one of the jets departing from the area.
Flight QR908 is said to have been targeted by airport employees at 8.30 a.m. to Sydney.
What supposedly happened there sounds unbelievable, but according to statements from those affected and witnesses quoted by local media, it happened that way.
Accordingly, the machine was initially on the ground for several hours.
A short time later, all women among the passengers were asked to get off.
A good dozen Australian Qatar customers among the 34 passengers were accompanied by security personnel and taken to a basement room.
There they had to bare themselves and were given a medical examination by a doctor without the necessary prior consent.
Most of them also had their abdomen and vagina palpated.
After returning on board, several women cried, reports a passenger who spoke to some of those affected.
The Australian government is said to have contacted the Qatari ambassador in Canberra and requested a detailed report.
Qatar Airlines did not respond to SPIEGEL's request.
The Australian "Guardian" assured the company that they would review the process with the involvement of the relevant authorities.
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