October 20, 2025

A shocking and sad story has rocked Taiwan’s EVA Air recently! A brave 34-year-old flight attendant named Ms Sun fell seriously ill during a long flight from Milan to Taoyuan on September 24. Despite seeking medical help right after landing, her condition sadly worsened. She was admitted to Linkou Chang Gung Memorial Hospital on September 26, then moved to China Medical University Hospital on October 8, but passed away on October 10. But the story doesn’t end there. After her death, her family got an unbelievable message from EVA Air. The airline asked them for proof of her sick leave during her hospital stay! The family was shocked and replied by sending Ms Sun’s death certificate. This cold act spread like wildfire on social media, making many people angry and worried about how airlines treat their staff. EVA Air quickly realized the mess and issued a formal apology. They said the request was made by an employee “insufficiently familiar with their work duties” and expressed “deepest apologies” for upsetting the family. At a press conference, EVA Air President Sun Chia-Ming said, “The departure of Ms Sun is the pain in our hearts forever. We will carry out the investigation with the most responsible attitude.” He admitted the company faced heavy criticism and promised to fix the situation. The case triggered a closer look by Taiwanese authorities and EVA Air into whether Ms Sun was properly supported and if the airline’s workplace pressured her about sick leave. Some of her colleagues anonymously spoke out about being overworked and neglected. The Taoyuan Flight Attendants Union slammed the airline’s culture, saying it wasn’t doing enough to protect crew members’ health. Records show Ms Sun flew about 75 hours a month in the last six months—legal but exhausting. EVA Air has had seven fines since 2013, mainly for staff overtime, raising more questions about how it manages crew welfare. This heartbreaking episode shines a harsh light on airline work culture and employee care. Can EVA Air turn this tragedy into a lesson and change the game for its workers? Only time will tell.

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Tags: Eva air, Flight attendant death, Sick leave controversy, Taiwan airline, Workplace safety, Crew welfare,