PTC News Desk: An 85-year-old cardiologist choked and died mid-flight after he was allegedly served non-vegetarian meal despite being strictly vegetarian. Dr. Asoka Jayaweera, a retired cardiologist from Southern California was asked to eat around the meat in the regular non-vegetarian meal provided, according to reports. The incident occurred on a Qatar Airways flight from Los Angeles to Colombo on June 30, 2023. Passenger Dr. Asoka Jayaweera had pre-ordered a vegetarian meal for the 15.5-hour flight, but a flight attendant informed him that none were available. Instead, he was served a non-vegetarian meal and told to “eat around” the meat.While trying to do so, Jayaweera began choking and lost consciousness. The crew provided assistance and sought help from MedAire’s remote medical advisors, but his condition deteriorated. The aircraft diverted to Edinburgh, Scotland, where he was taken to a hospital. He died on August 3, 2023, from aspiration pneumonia, a lung infection caused by inhaling food or liquid into the lungs.His son, Surya Jayaweera, has now filed a wrongful death lawsuit against Qatar Airways, accusing the airline of negligence in both meal service and medical response. The suit claims the airline failed to provide the pre-ordered vegetarian meal and mishandled the in-flight medical emergency. He is seeking $128,821 in damages, the statutory minimum for negligence and wrongful death.The lawsuit mentions that Qatar and the US are part of the Montreal Convention, an international treaty governing airline liability. This convention sets a statutory payout limit of around $175,000 for onboard death and injury claims. Qatar and the United States are members of the Montreal Convention and as such QATAR is subject to the Convention's rules and has acquiesced to strict liability for personal injury or wrongful deaths occurring as a result of an accident on an international flight, the complaint states.
Qatar Airways faces lawsuit after passenger dies choking on non-veg meal despite being vegetarian
PTC News Desk: An 85-year-old cardiologist choked and died mid-flight after he was allegedly served non-vegetarian meal despite being strictly vegetarian. Dr. Asoka Jayaweera, a retired cardiologist from Southern California was asked to eat around the meat in the regular non-vegetarian meal provided, according to reports. The incident occurred on a Qatar Airways flight from Los Angeles to Colombo on June 30, 2023. Passenger Dr. Asoka Jayaweera had pre-ordered a vegetarian meal for the 15.5-hour flight, but a flight attendant informed him that none were available. Instead, he was served a non-vegetarian meal and told to “eat around” the meat.While trying to do so, Jayaweera began choking and lost consciousness. The crew provided assistance and sought help from MedAire’s remote medical advisors, but his condition deteriorated. The aircraft diverted to Edinburgh, Scotland, where he was taken to a hospital. He died on August 3, 2023, from aspiration pneumonia, a lung infection caused by inhaling food or liquid into the lungs.His son, Surya Jayaweera, has now filed a wrongful death lawsuit against Qatar Airways, accusing the airline of negligence in both meal service and medical response. The suit claims the airline failed to provide the pre-ordered vegetarian meal and mishandled the in-flight medical emergency. He is seeking $128,821 in damages, the statutory minimum for negligence and wrongful death.The lawsuit mentions that Qatar and the US are part of the Montreal Convention, an international treaty governing airline liability. This convention sets a statutory payout limit of around $175,000 for onboard death and injury claims. Qatar and the United States are members of the Montreal Convention and as such QATAR is subject to the Convention's rules and has acquiesced to strict liability for personal injury or wrongful deaths occurring as a result of an accident on an international flight, the complaint states.
