EVA Air Revises Flight Attendant Policy Following In-Flight Death
Jakarta – EVA Air has implemented a new policy allowing sick leave for flight attendants, following the death of a crew member on October 10, 2025. The change enables flight attendants experiencing illness to take temporary leave for rest and medical attention.
According to a statement released Friday and reported by Focus Taiwan on October 25,2025,section heads and deputy heads overseeing in-flight crews are now required to report the condition of all flight attendants on duty. Ill crew members will be transported back to Taiwan as passengers, with replacement staff covering their duties. Flight attendants taking on the additional workload will receive a bonus.
EVA Air also plans to revise its performance appraisal system by the end of 2025 to formally incorporate sick leave provisions, though specific details of the revised system remain undisclosed.
The policy shift comes after the death of a 34-year-old EVA Air flight attendant, surnamed Sun, who reportedly died due to work exhaustion while on a Taipei-Mulan return flight. sun was reportedly unwell during the flight but unable to rest or receive medical care.
An internal examination by EVA Air found that supervision failed to utilize available medical resources and that Sun’s condition was not reported to the pilot or company due to a lack of awareness among staff.
In response, EVA Air intends to improve crew access to information regarding manager contacts and international ambulance costs, making this information publicly available.
However, the flight attendants’ union expressed skepticism, stating the airline’s response appears aimed at mitigating criticism without outlining concrete steps. The union is urging EVA Air to fully implement its promises of sick leave and performance appraisal improvements to address systemic issues within the work surroundings.
