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.