Qatar Airways Vegetarian Passenger Chokes to Death on Plane after Being Told to Eat Around Meat
Family Sues After Vegetarian Passenger’s Tragic Death on Qatar Airways Flight
An 85-year-old vegetarian passenger tragically passed away on a Qatar Airways flight while en route from Los Angeles to Sri Lanka. Asoka Jayaweera, a respected cardiologist from California, faced a dire situation after being served a non-vegetarian meal despite his dietary preferences.
Vegetarian Passenger Served Non-Vegetarian Meal
Jayaweera embarked on his journey to Colombo on June 23, 2023. Despite booking a vegetarian meal for the 15-and-a-half hour flight, he was informed by a flight attendant that only non-vegetarian meals were available. He was advised to “eat around” the meat in the meal provided. Unfortunately, during this attempt, Jayaweera began choking, leading to devastating consequences.
Qatar Airways Crew’s Response to In-Flight Emergency
The crew on board promptly responded to the emergency, attempting to assist Jayaweera as he struggled with his meal. The pilot, however, could not perform an emergency landing due to the aircraft’s location over the Arctic Circle. The airline had contacted MedAire, seeking guidance from ER doctors specialized in handling in-flight medical situations.
Despite efforts involving oxygen and drug administration, Jayaweera could not be revived. His oxygen saturation level was alarmingly low, at 69 percent, when medical interventions were first attempted.
Disputed Flight Path and Delayed Medical Assistance
The wrongful death lawsuit alleges that the plane was over the Midwest, contrary to reports of it being over the Arctic, suggesting an emergency landing might have been feasible. The flight eventually landed in Edinburgh, Scotland, where Jayaweera was pronounced dead from aspiration pneumonia on August 3, 2023.
Lawsuit Seeks Justice for Negligence and Wrongful Death
Jayaweera’s son, Surya, has initiated legal action against Qatar Airways, claiming negligence and wrongful death. The lawsuit seeks damages exceeding the limits outlined by the Montreal Convention, which typically caps airline liability during such incidents. Additionally, it requests interest on potential compensation and coverage of legal expenses.
Emegypt has reached out to Qatar Airways for further comments, with updates to follow as more information becomes available.
