The family of an 85-year-old cardiologist has filed a wrongful death lawsuit against Qatar Airways, alleging the airline served him a meat-based meal despite his request for a vegetarian option, leading to his death by choking.
Asoka Jayaweera, a strict vegetarian from Southern California, was flying from Los Angeles to Colombo, Sri Lanka, on 23 June 2023. About two-and-a-half hours into the flight, a flight attendant informed him that no vegetarian meals were available and instructed him to 'eat around' the meat, according to the complaint filed in California federal court.
Shortly after attempting to do so, Jayaweera began choking. Crew members provided assistance and contacted MedAire, an in-flight medical support service. His oxygen saturation levels dropped to 69 percent—dangerously low—and never exceeded 85 percent. He lost consciousness approximately three-and-a-half hours before the flight landed in Edinburgh, Scotland, where he was taken to hospital but could not be revived.
The lawsuit claims the pilot refused to make an emergency landing, stating the aircraft was over the Arctic Circle, but Jayaweera's son Surya contends the plane was actually over the Midwest and could have diverted. The family is seeking damages for negligence and wrongful death.
Qatar Airways offers 19 special meals, including seven meat-free options, but the family says the airline failed to provide the ordered vegetarian meal. This incident follows other reports of dietary mishaps on Qatar Airways, including a passenger with a nut allergy being served nuts.
