This is a rather astonishing turn of events, isn’t it? A group of five brave Australian women have just won the right to drag Qatar Airways into court, after a truly shocking incident at Doha airport. Remember back in 2020, when a baby was found abandoned in an airport bin? What happened next was frankly unbelievable: these women were reportedly pulled off a flight, taken aside, strip-searched, and subjected to invasive medical examinations to see if they had recently given birth. Because, clearly, if there’s a problem, it must be a woman’s fault, right? One almost expects the official thinking to be, “Find a problem involving a baby? Search every lady in the vicinity!”
This whole affair sparked outrage across the globe, and quite rightly so. But initially, an Australian judge threw out their case last year, basically saying the state-owned airline couldn’t be held responsible under international travel laws. The judge even suggested it was “fanciful, trifling, implausible, improbable, [and] tenuous” to think Qatar Airways staff could have even tried to stop it. Because, you know, airlines have no say over what happens to their passengers on their own tarmac, do they? A bit like saying the bus driver isn’t responsible if someone gets dragged off the bus by angry squirrels.
But these women, clearly made of sterner stuff, appealed that decision. And lo and behold, the full bench of the Federal Court found that the first judge actually got it wrong. Imagine that!
So, back in 2021, these five women filed a lawsuit not just against Qatar Airways, but also against Qatar’s Civil Aviation Authority and the company that runs Hamad International Airport, called Matar. They’re seeking money for the “unlawful physical contact” and false imprisonment, citing mental health impacts like depression and even post-traumatic stress disorder. And good for them! It’s worth noting that other passengers from places like the UK and New Zealand who also endured these invasive searches aren’t part of this particular case, but one can only imagine their experiences were just as horrific.
Initially, all three groups they were suing tried to get the case thrown out before it even got to trial. And in April 2024, Justice John Halley agreed, ruling that Qatar Airways couldn’t be held responsible under something called the Montreal Convention (which is usually about death or injury, not… well, this). He even went so far as to say that even if they could sue the airline, the women’s case had “no real prospect of success” because airline staff couldn’t have influenced the Qatari police or the nurses involved. It really makes you wonder about the definition of “influence” in some courts, doesn’t it? He also let Qatar’s aviation regulator off the hook, saying they were immune from foreign prosecution.
However, a different panel of three judges Justice Angus Stewart, Justice Debra Mortimer, and Justice James Stellios looked at it again and decided the first judge had made some rulings that should only be decided during a full trial. They did agree that Qatar’s aviation regulator was still off the hook, but crucially, they said the women absolutely have the right to sue both Qatar Airways and Matar.
So, the case is now expected to head to trial in the Federal Court. Damian Sturzaker, the women’s lawyer, put it perfectly: “Our clients endured a traumatic experience on that night in Doha and they deserve to have their day in court and compensation for their suffering.” The women themselves have previously spoken out, saying they didn’t agree to the examinations and were given no explanations. One British grandmother, Mandy, famously said she felt “like I had been raped.” Another felt like she was being kidnapped.
While Qatar did launch a criminal prosecution that led to a suspended jail term for an airport official (a small victory, I suppose), these women are clearly seeking more. They want a formal apology from Qatar and for the airport to change its procedures entirely, so no other woman ever has to go through such an ordeal. It’s a stark reminder that even in the age of modern travel, some lines should never be crossed, and hopefully, these women will finally get the justice they deserve.
