A Qatar Airways flight has become the centre of a tragic incident and subsequent legal battle after an 85-year-old cardiologist died following a mix-up with his pre-ordered vegetarian meal. The incident raises serious questions about airline negligence and passenger safety.
The Fateful Flight
Dr. Asoka Jayaweera, a cardiologist from Southern California, was travelling on a Qatar Airways flight from Los Angeles (LAX) to Doha (DOH). He had specifically ordered a vegetarian meal for the 15.5-hour journey. However, approximately 2.5 hours into the flight, he was allegedly served a standard meal containing meat.
According to reports, when Dr. Jayaweera raised concerns, crew members reportedly told him to simply "eat around" the meat. This seemingly minor error had devastating consequences.
Choking and Emergency Landing
Shortly after attempting to eat, Dr. Jayaweera began to choke. Despite the crew's attempts to assist, his oxygen levels plummeted. The family alleges the flight was still over US airspace, but the captain refused to divert, claiming they were over the Arctic. The plane eventually landed in Edinburgh, Scotland, where Dr. Jayaweera, who had been unconscious for approximately 3.5 hours, was pronounced dead.
Negligence Lawsuit Filed
Dr. Jayaweera’s family has filed a wrongful death lawsuit against Qatar Airways, alleging negligence. The lawsuit cites the failure to provide the pre-ordered vegetarian meal, the dismissive response from crew members, inadequate in-flight medical intervention, and the captain’s refusal to divert the flight despite the passenger’s deteriorating condition.
The family is seeking compensation for the tragic loss of their father. The lawsuit invokes the Montreal Convention, an international treaty that allows compensation for deaths or injuries during international flights.
A Pattern of Food Safety Issues?
This incident isn't an isolated one. Last year, British reality star Jack Fowler, who has a nut allergy, nearly died after being served a chicken curry containing nuts on a flight to Dubai. These incidents highlight the importance of airlines taking food allergies and dietary requirements seriously to ensure passenger safety. Airlines should also provide adequate medical assistance in the event of onboard emergencies.