An 85-year-old vegetarian passenger died after choking while trying to eat around meat served on a Qatar Airways flight.
The family of Dr. Asoka Jayaweera, an 85-year-old California-based cardiologist, has filed a lawsuit against Qatar Airways, claiming he choked to death after being served a non-vegetarian meal despite having ordered a vegetarian one.
According to the complaint, filed in California state court on July 31, Dr. Jayaweera was on a 15½-hour flight from Los Angeles to Colombo on June 23, 2023. The lifelong vegetarian had specifically requested a meat-free meal when booking his ticket.
However, once onboard, he was informed by a flight attendant that no vegetarian meals were available and was instead handed a standard meat dish. Crew members allegedly advised him to “eat around the meat.”
Moments later, Jayaweera began choking. Cabin crew attempted first aid, while doctors from MedAire, a remote emergency-response service for airlines, were contacted to guide the crew. Despite their efforts, the pilot was unable to make an emergency landing, and Jayaweera died during the flight.
The lawsuit, filed by his son, accuses the airline of negligence and wrongful death, arguing that the staff failed to provide the meal he ordered and mishandled the medical crisis that followed. The filing does not specify the exact food item that caused the choking.
Qatar Airways has not yet issued a public statement regarding the incident.
