Airline forced to apologise after asking dead employee for paperwork

The airline requested paperwork from an employee after her death. (Image: Getty)

An airline has apologised for requesting sick leave paperwork from an employee who died after falling ill on a flight. Eva Air, an international airline based in Taiwan, triggered widespread outrage and protests in the capital of Taipei after a dead employee was asked to submit sick leave paperwork. Ms Sun, a 34-year-old flight attendant, died earlier this month after falling ill on a flight from Milan to Taoyuan in Taiwan.

In the days after her death, the airline reportedly texted her asking for proof that she had applied for leave for the time she was hospitalised with an illness. Taiwanese authorities have launched an investigation into whether she was denied medical help or discouraged from taking leave by her bosses. The backlash to the incident has largely been linked to online speculation that the 34-year-old was being overworked.

The airline has apologised and said it was 'deeply saddened' by the death (Image: Getty)

Ms Sun, who began working for Eva Air in 2016, fell ill while onboard an aircraft on September 24, according to reports. She was admitted to Linkou Chang Gung Memorial Hospital on September 26 before being transferred to China Medical University Hospital in Taichung on October 8.

Her cause of death has not been publicly confirmed.

Responding to reporters at a press conference this week, Sun Chia Ming, president of the airline, said: "The departure of Ms Sun is the pain in our hearts forever.

"We will carry out the investigation [into her death] with the most responsible attitude."

Anonymous social media reports, allegedly from Ms Sun's colleagues, claimed that she had been pushed to work while unwell, with one person writing: "This is not some regrettable coincidence, but the result of systemic and long-term indifference to crew members' health."

In a statement published by the BBC, Eva Air said it had maintained contact with Ms Sun's family while she was in hospital and was "deeply saddened" by her death.

"The health and safety of our employees and passengers are our highest priorities," a spokesperson added.

Eva Air has been fined seven times since 2013, mainly for offences linked to staff working overtime, according to Taiwan's Central News Agency.