Australian women lose bid to sue Qatar Airways over strip search

Three claimed they were assaulted and falsely imprisoned throughout the process

A Qatar Airways plane at Hamad International Airport in Doha. Christopher Pike / Bloomberg

A group of Australian women who were searched while travelling through Doha airport have lost a legal bid against Qatar Airways.

In an incident that sparked international outrage, Qatari authorities pulled women off 10 planes at Doha airport in 2020 and forced them to undergo invasive gynaecological exams.

Qatari authorities escorted women off 10 planes at Doha airport in 2020 and made them undergo gynaecological exams.

Three Australian women caught up in the searches lodged legal action against Qatar Airways, claiming they were assaulted and falsely imprisoned throughout the process.

However, an Australian judge dismissed the case because the women were not searched on board the aircraft, citing an international convention covering airline liability, news agency AFP reported.

Federal Court Justice John Halley indicated they could instead amend the claim to seek damages against the operator of Hamad International Airport.

Australia's government later cited it as a reason to block Qatar Airways from operating more flights into the country.

Qatar’s prime minister at the time Sheikh Khalid bin Khalifa had offered his “sincerest apologies for what some female travellers went through”.