An 85-year-old vegetarian passenger died after choking on food during a Qatar Airways flight from Los Angeles to Colombo, despite having pre-ordered a vegetarian meal. The tragic incident has raised serious concerns about airline meal handling, passenger safety, and care for travelers with dietary restrictions.
Passenger Dies Mid-Flight After Being Served the Wrong Meal
Dr. Asoka Jayaweera, a retired cardiologist from Southern California, boarded a Qatar Airways flight on June 30, 2023, expecting a vegetarian meal he had requested in advance. The 15.5-hour flight was supposed to take him from Los Angeles to Colombo, Sri Lanka, via Doha.
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However, when meals were served, the crew informed him that no vegetarian options were available. Instead, they provided a regular non-vegetarian meal and allegedly told him to “eat around” the meat.
Trying to eat the meal carefully, Dr. Jayaweera accidentally choked on his food. According to reports, he soon lost consciousness as crew members rushed to assist him.
Crew and Medical Assistance Failed to Save Him
The flight attendants attempted emergency aid on board while consulting medical professionals from MedAire, a service that provides remote medical guidance to airlines. Despite their efforts, Dr. Jayaweera’s condition worsened during the flight.
The plane made an emergency landing in Edinburgh, Scotland, where he was taken to a local hospital. Unfortunately, after weeks of treatment, Dr. Jayaweera was pronounced dead on August 3, 2023.
Medical reports later confirmed that he had died from aspiration pneumonia — a severe lung infection caused by inhaling food or liquid into the lungs.
Family Files Lawsuit Against Qatar Airways
Following the incident, Dr. Jayaweera’s son, Surya Jayaweera, filed a wrongful death lawsuit against Qatar Airways. The lawsuit accuses the airline of negligence both in meal service and in handling the medical emergency.
The complaint states that the airline failed to provide the pre-ordered vegetarian meal and did not respond adequately when Dr. Jayaweera began choking. The family is seeking $128,821 in damages for negligence and wrongful death — the statutory minimum amount allowed under international aviation law.
Airline Liability Under the Montreal Convention
The lawsuit also references the Montreal Convention, an international treaty that sets rules for airline liability in cases of injury or death on international flights. Both Qatar and the United States are members of the convention.
Under this treaty, airlines are held strictly liable for personal injury or death resulting from onboard accidents, up to a limit of approximately $175,000. Beyond that amount, airlines may still be held responsible if proven negligent.
Concerns Over Airline Handling of Dietary Restrictions
The tragedy has sparked public discussion about how airlines manage special meal requests, especially for passengers with dietary restrictions due to religion, health, or personal choice.
For elderly passengers like Dr. Jayaweera, such oversights can be life-threatening. Experts have emphasized that airlines must handle pre-booked meal preferences seriously, particularly on long-haul flights.
This incident is not the first time Qatar Airways has faced criticism for mishandling dietary needs.
Past Incidents Involving Dietary Negligence
In 2024, British reality TV star Jack Fowler, who has a severe nut allergy, nearly died after being served a chicken curry containing nuts on a Qatar Airways flight to Dubai. Fowler said he had clearly mentioned his allergy before boarding but was still served a meal that could have killed him.
Shockingly, a year earlier, Fowler had a similar experience on another Qatar Airways flight when he was given ice cream that contained nuts.
READ ALSO- Maharashtra Woman Dies After Bike Accident Caused by Pothole While Riding With HusbandOther airlines have also faced similar incidents. In mid-2024, a Singapore Airlines flight from Frankfurt to New York City was diverted to Paris after a 41-year-old woman with a shellfish allergy became seriously ill when served shrimp in her meal.
A Wake-Up Call for the Aviation Industry
The death of Dr. Asoka Jayaweera serves as a grim reminder of the importance of meal accuracy and emergency preparedness in air travel. As more passengers rely on airlines to respect their dietary needs — whether for medical, ethical, or religious reasons — the aviation industry faces growing pressure to implement stricter checks.
Airlines are expected to ensure that special meal requests are honored and that all crew members are properly trained to handle in-flight medical emergencies.
For now, Dr. Jayaweera’s family continues their fight for justice, hoping the case will push airlines worldwide to adopt better safety standards — so that no other passenger’s life is lost due to a preventable mistake.
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