TAIPEI, Oct 19 — EVA Air is facing backlash after requesting sick leave paperwork from an employee who died earlier this month, Taiwan’s Central News Agency (CNA) reported.
On Monday, the Taiwanese airline said it was investigating reports that a cabin crew manager ignored the deteriorating health of flight attendant Sun during an international trip.
The manager allegedly did not contact ground medical services and insisted she continue working, CNA reported.
The incident occurred on a September 24 flight from Milan, Italy, to Taoyuan, Taiwan.
Sun sought medical treatment at a local clinic on September 25 and was later transferred to Linkou Chang Gung Memorial Hospital on September 26, then China Medical University Hospital in Taichung on October 8.
She died two days later, aged 34.
Shockingly, on the day of her funeral, an EVA Air employee texted Sun’s phone requesting leave application documents she had filed while in hospital.
In screenshots that have since gone viral, the family replied, “Did you not see the news? Clearly, there’s a lot to be improved in your company”.
They then sent a copy of her death certificate, adding, “I just submitted it “the soonest as possible” as you wished. Take your time now, there is no rush”.
The screenshot allegedly shared by the flight attendant’s family of the airline’s leave request on the day of her funeral.
EVA Air told CNA that the message was sent “by mistake by an employee who was insufficiently familiar with their work duties.”
The airline expressed regret for the distress caused and offered its “deepest apologies.”
“Since the occurrence of this incident our company has faced a lot of criticism and questions,” EVA Air president Sun Chia-Ming said at a press conference earlier this week.
“We humbly accept them… 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.”
Flight records over the past six months indicate Sun flew an average of 75 hours per month, within legal limits, CNA reported.
However, members of the Taoyuan Flight Attendants Union have criticised the airline for failing to address what they see as a flawed workplace culture.
“Seven days have passed since Sun’s death, yet we have not received any apologies or explanations from EVA Air,” board member Chao Chieh-huan told reporters outside the airline’s headquarters.
CNA noted that EVA Air has faced seven fines since 2013, mostly related to staff working overtime.
Taiwan’s EVA Air apologises after asking deceased flight attendant for sick leave on her funeral day
