Paul Trinder, 54, a businessman from Brackley, Northamptonshire, awoke during the flight to Delhi to find cabin staff propping up a dead woman in his row.

He was refused compensation and told by the airline to "get over it", reports the Independent.

Mr Trinder, who had spent more than £3,000 on his first-class ticket, complained: "The stewards just plonked down this body without saying a thing.

"I remember looking at this thin, sparrow-like woman and thinking she was very ill.

"She kept slipping under the seat belt and moving about with the motion of the plane. When I asked what was going on, I was shocked to hear she was dead."

"I just kept thinking to myself: "I've paid more than £3,000 for this"."

The woman had been in economy class when she died soon after the plane left Delhi.

British Airways says the dead woman was taken into first class because the rest of the plane was full.

"When a customer passes away on board it is always difficult and we apologise for any distress caused," a BA spokesperson said.