Qatar Airways accused of killing vegetarian passenger with meat meal
What's the story
A Southern California cardiologist, Asoka Jayaweera, died after choking on a meat-based meal on a Qatar Airways flight in 2023. The 85-year-old had ordered a vegetarian meal for his journey from Los Angeles to Sri Lanka with a stopover in Doha. However, the flight attendant "informed him that there were no vegetarian meals left and that they could only provide him a regular meal with meat and instructed him to 'eat around' the meat," The Independent reported.
Medical crisis
Jayaweera lost consciousness mid-flight
As per a complaint filed by his son Surya, Jayaweera attempted to "eat around" the meat in the meal that he was provided but began choking shortly thereafter. The flight crew called MedAire, a service with aviation-trained ER doctors for in-flight emergencies. Despite administering oxygen, Jayaweera's oxygen saturation levels dropped to 69%, well below the dangerous threshold of 88%.
Complaint
He died due to aspiration pneumonia
The complaint also states that although the flight was passing over Wisconsin at the time, the crew informed Jayaweera's travel companion that the captain was unable to divert because they were already over the Arctic Circle and on their way to cross the Arctic Ocean. The plane was later brought down in Edinburgh, United Kingdom, and Jayaweera was transported to the hospital, but "he would die in Edinburgh on August 3, 2023, due to aspiration pneumonia."
Legal action
Lawsuit filed against Qatar Airways
Surya has filed a lawsuit against Qatar Airways for negligence and wrongful death, seeking damages beyond the Montreal Convention limits. The convention caps payouts at around $175,000 for onboard deaths or injuries. The lawsuit claims Jayaweera's choking incident could have been avoided if the airline had provided him with his requested vegetarian meal.
Policy scrutiny
Qatar Airways has faced criticism for not accommodating dietary restrictions
Qatar Airways offers 19 special meals, including seven meat-free options. However, the airline has faced criticism in the past for not accommodating passengers with specific dietary restrictions. British reality star Jack Fowler had a near-fatal experience on a Qatar Airways flight due to his severe nut allergy when he was served chicken curry and ice cream containing nuts.