Five Australian women have won the right to sue Qatar Airways for forcing them to undergo invasive physical examinations on a Doha airport tarmac in 2020 after a federal court upheld their appeal.

The women, whose identities remain confidential, were among dozens of female passengers removed from flights and subjected to bodily examinations, according to their lawyer, after a newborn was found abandoned in Hamad International Airport.

At the time, the Qatari government said the measure was taken after a baby girl was found wrapped in plastic and buried in trash in “a shocking and appalling attempt to kill her.”

It said officials acted to prevent the “perpetrators” from leaving the country and apologized for any distress caused to passengers.

The incident caused international outrage and was condemned by Australia’s then foreign minister as a “grossly disturbing, offensive, concerning set of events.”