A Taiwanese airline has issued an apology for requesting paperwork related to a sick leave application from an employee after her death. According to a report by The Independent, a 34-year-old EVA Air flight attendant, surnamed Sun, died on October 10, days after feeling unwell during a flight from Milan to Taoyuan, Taiwan. She was admitted to the hospital after her condition worsened and later died.
Sun first felt unwell on September 24 during a long-haul flight from Milan to Taoyuan. She was treated at a nearby clinic after landing, but her condition deteriorated over the following days, The Independent reported.
She was admitted to a hospital on September 26 and later transferred to another hospital on October 8. She died two days later.
However, shortly after her death, a representative from EVA Air reportedly sent a message to her phone requesting proof of her sick leave application. Her family said they were forced to respond by sending a copy of her death certificate.
Following public backlash, EVA Air issued a statement saying it was “deeply saddened” by her passing and expressing “deepest apologies” to her family. The airline said the request was made by an employee “insufficiently familiar with their work duties.”
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Investigation underway
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Investigation underway
{{/usCountry}}The case triggered widespread anger in Taiwan after a colleague of the deceased disclosed the incident online, alleging that flight attendants are routinely overworked and discouraged from taking sick leave. “This was not some regrettable coincidence, but the result of systemic and long-term indifference to crew members’ health,” the anonymous user wrote.
The controversy then prompted EVA Air and Taiwanese authorities to launch a joint investigation into whether Sun was denied proper medical leave or support before her death.
At a press conference on Friday, EVA Air president Sun Chia-Ming said, “The departure of Ms Sun is the pain in our hearts forever. We will carry out the investigation with the most responsible attitude.”