I think there is more to it than that, but I'm not sure. There are physicians on planes, but even then the person isn't dead until they're on the jetway.
I think it has to with not just having the qualifications to declare someone dead, a physician as you say, but also I think they have to have the legal jurisdiction to do so, and jurisdiction is tied to a geographic location for estate settlement purposes. They died "in the air over several states" could be a problem during probate.
Then again, maybe this is just one company's policy. After all, people die at sea and are really dead, especially when their body goes into the ocean. Do they still do that? Any lawyers out there?
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