Taipei
In a deeply disturbing incident that has outraged the public across Taiwan, EVA Air has issued a public apology after it sent a text message requesting sick-leave paperwork from a flight attendant who had already passed away.
The 34-year-old crew member, identified only by her surname Sun, reportedly fell ill on a flight from Milan to Taoyuan on September 24. She was hospitalized upon arrival but tragically died on October 8.
Shockingly, just days after her death, the airline texted her number — asking for proof that she had officially applied for leave during her hospitalization.
When her family received the message, they responded by sending a copy of Sun’s death certificate.
EVA Air later admitted that the message was an “internal error”, describing it as a grave mistake by an employee. The company’s president, Sun Chia-Ming, said during a press conference:
“We are deeply saddened by her passing. This tragedy will remain a scar on our hearts. We have apologized personally to her family.”
Social media users in Taiwan expressed anger, accusing the airline of overworking its employees and lacking compassion. Authorities have launched a joint investigation with EVA Air to determine if Sun was pressured to continue flying despite her deteriorating health.
Reports show that she had flown an average of 75 hours per month, technically within regulations — but many critics say that’s still too high given the demanding nature of the job.
The China Medical University Hospital, where she passed away, has yet to disclose an official cause of death.
This heartbreaking case has reignited debate over workplace stress, corporate responsibility, and employee welfare in Taiwan’s aviation industry.
