Five Australian women subjected to invasive strip searches at Doha’s Hamad International Airport in 2020 have won the right to sue Qatar Airways, following a successful appeal in Australia’s Federal Court.

The women were forcibly removed from a Qatar Airways flight after a newborn baby was found abandoned in an airport bathroom. Without consent or explanation, they were taken to ambulances on the tarmac and subjected to intimate examinations—an incident that sparked international condemnation.

The women, who initiated legal proceedings in 2021, are seeking compensation for unlawful physical contact and false imprisonment. They report suffering lasting psychological harm, including depression and PTSD. While women from several countries were affected, only these five Australians are part of the legal case.

A previous ruling by Justice John Halley had dismissed the claims against Qatar Airways, arguing that the airline bore no responsibility under the Montreal Convention, an international treaty on airline liability. Halley had described the idea that airline staff could influence the actions of Qatari police or medical personnel as “implausible” and “tenuous.”

However, a full bench of the Federal Court—Justices Angus Stewart, Debra Mortimer, and James Stellios—overturned that decision, ruling that key issues should be addressed at trial. While the judges upheld the dismissal of claims against Qatar’s Civil Aviation Authority, they reinstated the lawsuit against Qatar Airways and the airport operator, Matar.

Damian Sturzaker, the women’s lawyer, welcomed the court’s decision. “Our clients endured a traumatic experience that night in Doha. They deserve their day in court and the opportunity to seek justice for what they went through,” he said.

The women have previously spoken publicly about their ordeal, describing feelings of fear, confusion, and violation. One believed she was being abducted; another compared the experience to sexual assault. None were informed of the reason for the search or given the option to refuse.

Qatar launched a criminal probe following the incident, resulting in a suspended prison sentence for an airport official. However, the women say they received no apology and have seen no meaningful institutional reform.

The case will now proceed to trial in the Federal Court of Australia.