Riches, who has been clocking 150,000 miles on average for the past four years and has clocked up 171,000 miles this year, wrote that from where he was seated in the flight that day, he could see through the gaps in the curtain the flight attendants talking and from time to time, hugging each other.



"They straightened their ties, adjusted their kebayas and headed back to work across the aircraft. I almost felt that I should not be there to witness their grief," wrote the loyal MAS flyer.



"The youngest flight attendant who was totally overcome with grief came out mid-flight to ask if I needed something. She apologised for not being attentive.



"'Oh no!' I said to her. Goodness me. I wanted to leap out of my seat and give her a massive hug. 'I completely understand,' I said. I told her that I was so sorry and there was absolutely nothing that I needed to which she managed a small smile and hurried back behind the curtains - apologising as she left."