Tragic Mid-Air Incident Raises Questions About Airline Responsibility
An 85-year-old retired cardiologist, Dr. Asoka Jayaweera, died aboard a Qatar Airways flight after being served the wrong meal despite having pre-ordered a vegetarian option. The shocking incident occurred on June 30, 2023, during a 15.5-hour journey from Los Angeles to Colombo, and has now led to a wrongful death lawsuit against the airline.
Dr. Jayaweera, a lifelong vegetarian from Southern California, had specifically requested a vegetarian meal in advance of the long-haul flight. However, when meal service began, a flight attendant reportedly informed him that no vegetarian meals were available. Instead, he was handed a regular non-vegetarian meal and advised to “eat around” the meat.
An 85-year-old Southern California cardiologist, Dr. Asoka Jayaweera, died after choking on food aboard a Qatar Airways flight from Los Angeles to Sri Lanka when he was denied the vegetarian meal he had preordered, according to a wrongful death lawsuit filed by his family, The… pic.twitter.com/0Nca7mNYuL
— MDWLive! SriLanka 🇱🇰 (@MDWLiveSriLanka) October 7, 2025
Fatal Choking After “Eat Around It” Advice
According to the lawsuit filed by his son, Surya Jayaweera, the elderly doctor tried to follow the flight attendant’s suggestion. While attempting to eat portions of the meal without meat, he began choking. Witnesses say he soon lost consciousness, prompting an immediate response from the cabin crew.
The crew administered first aid and consulted remote medical advisors through Qatar Airways’ emergency partner, MedAire. Despite their efforts, Dr. Jayaweera’s condition deteriorated rapidly. The pilot diverted the aircraft to Edinburgh, Scotland, where paramedics were waiting upon landing. Dr. Jayaweera was transported to a local hospital but succumbed to complications on August 3, 2023. The cause of death was identified as aspiration pneumonia—a severe lung infection caused by inhaling food or liquid into the lungs.
Legal Action Cites Negligence and Poor Medical Response
In a lawsuit filed in a U.S. federal court, Surya Jayaweera accuses Qatar Airways of gross negligence, claiming the airline failed to honor his father’s pre-ordered meal and did not provide adequate medical support during the crisis. The lawsuit seeks $128,821 in damages for wrongful death and negligence—the statutory minimum amount permissible under international aviation law.
The complaint also invokes the Montreal Convention, an international treaty governing airline liability for passenger injury or death on international flights. Both Qatar and the United States are signatories to the treaty, which enforces a strict liability framework and caps compensation for onboard deaths or injuries at approximately $175,000.
“Qatar Airways is bound by the Montreal Convention and has consented to strict liability for personal injury or death occurring due to an accident on an international flight,” the lawsuit states.
Growing Concerns Over Airline Dietary Protocols
This incident has sparked broader discussions about the responsibility of airlines in handling special dietary requests, particularly for elderly or medically vulnerable passengers. Many international travelers rely on pre-ordered meals due to religious, ethical, or health-based dietary restrictions.
Aviation experts and passenger advocacy groups argue that the failure to provide a confirmed special meal represents more than a service lapse—it can pose serious health and safety risks. In Dr. Jayaweera’s case, critics say, the lack of proper training and sensitivity from crew members may have directly contributed to his death.
Similar Incidents With Dietary Negligence
This is not the first time Qatar Airways has faced criticism for meal-related mishaps. In 2023, British reality TV star Jack Fowler, who suffers from a severe nut allergy, nearly died on a Qatar Airways flight to Dubai after being served chicken curry containing nuts despite multiple warnings. Fowler also reported a similar near-fatal incident with the airline the previous year after consuming ice cream that contained nuts.
Other carriers have encountered comparable emergencies. In one case, a Singapore Airlines flight from Frankfurt to New York had to divert to Paris after a 41-year-old woman suffered a severe allergic reaction to shrimp served in her meal.
Calls for Stricter Airline Regulations
Dr. Jayaweera’s death has reignited calls for stricter international standards regarding in-flight dietary accommodations and medical preparedness. Aviation consumer groups are urging regulators to enforce mandatory verification systems for special meal requests and to improve crew training for handling medical emergencies mid-flight.
As the wrongful death case proceeds, the tragedy serves as a somber reminder that a simple meal oversight can turn deadly at 35,000 feet. For families like the Jayaweeras, the pursuit of justice is not just about compensation—it’s about accountability and ensuring no other passenger endures such a preventable loss.
