Tragedy at 30,000 Feet: A Preventable Death
An 85-year-old retired cardiologist from Southern California, Dr. Asoka Jayaweera, tragically passed away during a Qatar Airways flight after being served a non-vegetarian meal, despite having pre-ordered a vegetarian option. The incident occurred on June 30, 2023, during a long-haul journey from Los Angeles to Colombo.
Pre-Ordered Vegetarian Meal Not Available
According to reports, Dr. Jayaweera had specifically requested a vegetarian meal ahead of the 15.5-hour flight. However, when meal service began, flight attendants informed him that his requested option was unavailable. Instead, he was handed a standard non-vegetarian tray and advised to “eat around” the meat.
In-Flight Emergency Unfolds
While attempting to navigate the meal, Dr. Jayaweera began to choke. He quickly lost consciousness. Flight crew initiated emergency response procedures and contacted MedAire, a remote medical advisory service. Despite these efforts, his condition deteriorated rapidly. The aircraft made an emergency diversion to Edinburgh, Scotland, where he was taken to a hospital. Unfortunately, Dr. Jayaweera succumbed to aspiration pneumonia—a severe lung infection caused by food or liquid entering the lungs—on August 3, 2023.
Legal Action: Wrongful Death Lawsuit Filed
Following the devastating loss, Dr. Jayaweera’s son, Surya Jayaweera, filed a wrongful death lawsuit against Qatar Airways. The legal complaint accuses the airline of negligence both in failing to provide the pre-ordered vegetarian meal and in its response to the medical emergency on board. The lawsuit seeks $128,821 in damages for negligence and wrongful death—an amount that aligns with the statutory minimum under international aviation law.
Airline Liability Under the Montreal Convention
The legal basis of the lawsuit refers to the Montreal Convention, an international treaty that governs airline responsibility in the event of injury or death during international travel. Both Qatar and the United States are signatories. According to the suit, Qatar Airways bears strict liability for personal injury or death resulting from onboard accidents.
Growing Concerns Over Airline Dietary Oversight
This tragic case has cast a spotlight on airline accountability when it comes to passenger dietary restrictions and emergency protocols, particularly for elderly travelers. Sadly, this is not an isolated event. Qatar Airways has previously come under scrutiny for similar incidents.
British reality television star Jack Fowler nearly died on a Qatar Airways flight to Dubai after consuming chicken curry that contained nuts, despite informing the airline of his severe nut allergy. A year prior, he was served ice cream with nuts during another flight with the same carrier.
Other airlines have also faced similar criticisms. In one case, a Singapore Airlines flight was forced to divert to Paris after a 41-year-old woman with a shellfish allergy was served shrimp and became seriously ill.
A Call for Better Safety Measures in the Skies
The tragic death of Dr. Asoka Jayaweera underscores a critical issue in modern air travel: the need for stricter enforcement of dietary accommodations and improved onboard medical protocols. As legal proceedings unfold, the aviation industry faces renewed pressure to ensure that no passenger’s health—or life—is put at risk due to avoidable oversights.
