California Man Dies After Choking On Non-Vegetarian In-Flight Meal; Family Accuses Qatar Airways For Negligence | World News

In a shocking incident, a Southern California cardiologist died after choking on food on a Qatar Airways flight from Los Angeles to Sri Lanka, allegedly after the airline failed to provide the vegetarian meal he had ordered. According to the Independent, his family filed an accidental death lawsuit, accusing the airline of negligence and failure to make an emergency landing.

According to the complaint filed by his son, 85-year-old Dr. is a strict vegetarian. On June 23, 2023, Asoka Jayaweera boarded a Qatar Airways flight from Los Angeles International Airport to Colombo, Sri Lanka, with a stopover in Doha. About two and a half hours into the 15 and a half hour trip, he requested the vegetarian meal he had pre-ordered.

However, flight attendants reportedly told him there were no vegetarian meals left and gave him a regular meal containing meat. The crew advised Jayaweera to “eat around” the meat, according to the lawsuit. While trying to do this, he began to choke.

Cabin crew members immediately tried to help him and contacted MedAire, a Phoenix-based company that provides emergency medical guidance to airlines. Despite relief efforts, Jayaweera’s oxygen saturation dropped to 69 percent; This fell well below the safe level of 88 percent. The lawsuit alleged that the pilot refused to make an emergency landing, telling Jayaweera’s traveling companion that the plane was “above the Arctic Circle and about to cross the Arctic Ocean.” However, his son, Surya Jayaweera, claimed that the plane was over the Midwestern United States at the time and could have easily been diverted to a nearby airport.

Jayaweera reportedly lost consciousness a few hours later. The flight did not land until it reached Edinburgh, Scotland, where he was taken to hospital. Doctors pronounced him dead on August 3, 2023, citing aspiration pneumonia, a lung infection caused by inhaling food or liquid.

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Family Seeks Compensation Alleging Neglect

The lawsuit, which was first filed in California state court on July 31 and later moved to federal court on October 3, accused Qatar Airways of wrongful death and negligence. The lawsuit sought damages in excess of the damages limit set by the Montreal Convention, an international agreement governing airline liability. The agreement then capped payouts for in-flight deaths and injuries at about $175,000.

Qatar Airways offers 19 specialty dining options, including seven vegetarian and vegan options. The family said the airline’s Dr. He argued that Jayaweera failed to provide the food he specifically requested.

The airline has not yet responded to requests for comment.