Asoka Jayaweera, an 85-year-old cardiologist, tragically died after choking on a Qatar Airways flight. The incident took place on a non-stop journey from the United States to Sri Lanka on June 30, 2023. Jayaweera, a strict vegetarian, had requested a vegetarian meal during his 15-and-a-half-hour flight.
Incident Details
Upon boarding at Los Angeles International Airport, Jayaweera was informed that there were no vegetarian meals available. Instead, a regular meal containing meat was served. Flight attendants reportedly advised him to “eat around” the meat in his meal.
- Passenger: Asoka Jayaweera
- Age: 85
- Meal Type: Non-vegetarian served instead of vegetarian
- Date of Flight: June 30, 2023
- Flight Duration: 15.5 hours
Choking Incident
While trying to consume the meal, Jayaweera began to choke. Efforts by the Qatar Airways crew to assist him included contacting MedAire, a service used for in-flight medical emergencies, for guidance.
- Emergency Contact: MedAire
- Oxygen Saturation Level: 69% at approximately 02:46 UTC
Lack of Emergency Landing
Despite the crew’s attempts to help, the pilot was unable to make an emergency landing. The initial complaint states that the aircraft was flying over the Arctic Circle at the time. However, Jayaweera’s son, Surya, contends they were actually over the Midwest, where a diversion could have been possible.
Fatal Aftermath
The flight eventually arrived in Edinburgh, Scotland, where Jayaweera had lost consciousness for approximately three and a half hours. He was transported to a hospital but succumbed to aspiration pneumonia on August 3, 2023.
Legal Action
Surya Jayaweera has filed a wrongful death lawsuit against Qatar Airways, alleging negligence in handling his father’s medical emergency. The lawsuit seeks damages exceeding the limits imposed by the Montreal Convention, which regulates airline liability for passenger deaths.
In addition, Surya is asking for accrued interest on the desired compensation, along with coverage for legal fees and court costs.
