Australian Court Dismisses Case Against Qatar Airways, Allows Claims Against Airport Subsidiary
A Federal Court in Australia has ruled that Qatar Airways is not liable under international law for invasive examinations at Doha Airport, but legal actions against the airport's operator, MATAR, continue.
- In 2020, women passengers were forcibly removed from flights in Doha and subjected to invasive gynecological examinations while authorities searched for the mother of an abandoned newborn.
- The Federal Court of Australia ruled that Qatar Airways, being a state-owned entity, could not be held liable under the Montreal Convention, which governs airline liability.
- The court dismissed the women's claims against Qatar Airways but allowed the lawsuit against MATAR, the airport's operator, to proceed.
- The incident, which involved passengers from multiple countries including the UK and New Zealand, drew international condemnation and led to governmental actions restricting Qatar Airways' operations.
- Legal representatives for the women expressed intentions to appeal the decision and continue pursuing claims against MATAR, citing unresolved issues of duty of care and unlawful treatment.
CNN 
