Law Report Federal Court says Australian women can sue Qatar Airways over airport body searches
Jul 29, 2025
Damien Sturzacker, a partner at Mark Lawyers, shines a light on a groundbreaking legal case involving Australian women suing Qatar Airways over invasive body searches at Doha airport. He discusses the emotional toll of these experiences and the significance of a federal court ruling allowing their lawsuit to proceed. The conversation delves into passenger rights under the Montreal Convention, the complexities of navigating legal battles in Qatar, and the intersection of human rights and climate change accountability in international law.
AI Snips
Chapters
Transcript
Episode notes
Women subjected to invasive airport searches
- Anna and other women were removed from a Qatar Airways flight at gunpoint at midnight and subjected to invasive searches at Doha airport in 2020.
- They were isolated, scared, and given no explanation, leading to a traumatic experience lasting years.
Montreal Convention's broad application
- The Montreal Convention may cover injuries suffered during processes linked but occurring off the plane, like being forcibly removed and searched.
- The legal definition of embarking or disembarking can extend to actions immediately adjacent to the aircraft.
Full court grants day in court
- The full federal court ruled that the case deserved a full trial rather than a summary dismissal.
- Complex legal questions, especially about international laws like the Montreal Convention, need thorough examination in court.