Post by : Rameen Ariff

An 85-year-old retired cardiologist from Southern California died aboard a Qatar Airways flight after being served a non-vegetarian meal, despite pre-ordering a vegetarian option. The tragic incident has sparked global outrage and raised serious questions about airline responsibility and passenger care.

The passenger, identified as Dr. Asoka Jayaweera, was flying from Los Angeles to Colombo on June 30, 2023, when the incident occurred. According to reports, Dr. Jayaweera had specifically requested a vegetarian meal for the 15.5-hour flight. However, after boarding, a flight attendant informed him that no vegetarian meals were available and suggested he “eat around” the meat in the regular meal served.

Following the suggestion, Dr. Jayaweera attempted to eat parts of the meal that did not contain meat. Moments later, he reportedly began choking and lost consciousness mid-flight. Cabin crew members immediately initiated medical assistance with the help of onboard passengers, while the airline consulted remote medical advisors from MedAire.

Despite their efforts, Dr. Jayaweera’s condition deteriorated, prompting an emergency landing in Edinburgh, Scotland. He was transported to a local hospital, where doctors diagnosed him with aspiration pneumonia, a serious lung infection caused by inhaling food particles or liquid into the lungs. He was later pronounced dead on August 3, 2023.

The victim’s son, Surya Jayaweera, has since filed a wrongful death lawsuit against Qatar Airways in the United States, accusing the airline of negligence in both meal service and medical response. The lawsuit alleges that the airline failed to honor his father’s pre-booked vegetarian meal request and did not adequately respond to the emergency situation.

According to court documents, Surya Jayaweera is seeking $128,821 in damages, the statutory minimum amount allowed under the Montreal Convention, an international treaty that regulates airline liability for passenger injuries or deaths during international flights.

The complaint notes that both the United States and Qatar are members of the Montreal Convention, which holds airlines strictly liable for accidents resulting in injury or death during air travel. “Qatar Airways is bound by the Convention’s rules and is responsible for ensuring passenger safety and proper service during international flights,” the lawsuit states.

The incident has reignited discussions about airline accountability, particularly when it comes to passengers with specific dietary restrictions and elderly travelers. Aviation safety experts say airlines must prioritize pre-ordered meal requests to prevent such avoidable tragedies.

This is not the first time Qatar Airways has faced criticism over meal-related incidents. In 2024, British reality TV star Jack Fowler, who suffers from a severe nut allergy, claimed he almost died after being served a chicken curry containing nuts on a Qatar Airways flight to Dubai. Fowler had previously faced a similar issue on another flight with the same airline.

Other international carriers have also been involved in comparable incidents. Earlier this year, a Singapore Airlines flight from Frankfurt to New York was diverted to Paris after a 41-year-old woman with a shellfish allergy became critically ill when mistakenly served shrimp.

The death of Dr. Jayaweera serves as a grim reminder of the importance of airline diligence in handling special meal requests and providing timely medical assistance in-flight. As the lawsuit proceeds, the case is expected to put renewed focus on passenger safety standards and airline accountability across the aviation industry.

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