Vegetarian Doctor Dies In Airplane Tragedy After Being Served Meat

The family of Asoka Jayaweera, a dedicated vegetarian, is mourning his death on a Qatar Airways flight. Jayaweera, an 85-year-old cardiologist from California, choked while attempting to eat around meat in a meal served to him. He had specifically ordered a vegetarian meal for his journey from the US to Sri Lanka.

Jayaweera's flight was booked for June 23, 2023, and he boarded at Los Angeles International Airport a week later. Despite his request for a vegetarian meal on the 15-and-a-half-hour flight, he was informed by a flight attendant that only non-vegetarian meals were available. The attendant advised him to "eat around" the meat.

Qatar Airways Crew's Efforts

When Jayaweera began choking, Qatar Airways crew members attempted to assist him. They contacted MedAire, which provides remote guidance from aviation-trained ER doctors during in-flight emergencies. Despite being monitored with an oxygen saturation level of 69 percent and receiving oxygen and medication, their efforts were unsuccessful.

The pilot faced challenges in making an emergency landing due to the plane's location over the Arctic Circle/Ocean. However, Jayaweera's son Surya claims that the aircraft was actually over the Midwest and could have diverted more easily.

Lawsuit Against Qatar Airways

Surya Jayaweera has filed a lawsuit against Qatar Airways for negligence and wrongful death. He seeks damages exceeding the Montreal Convention's limits on airline liability for passenger deaths. Additionally, he requests interest on compensation prior to court judgment and coverage of legal fees.

The flight eventually landed in Edinburgh, Scotland, where Jayaweera had been unconscious for about three-and-a-half hours. He was taken to a hospital but succumbed to aspiration pneumonia on August 3, 2023. This condition arises from inhaling food or liquid into the lungs.

The complaint filed by Surya does not specify which food item caused his father's choking incident. HT.com has reached out to Qatar Airways for their statement regarding this tragic event.