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2h ago

Qatar Airways Sued in U.S. Over Passenger’s Death After Alleged Denial of Vegetarian Meal

The filing seeks damages beyond treaty limits, alleging failures in meal provision, medical guidance, diversion decisions.

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Qatar Airways has been sued after a passenger died choking on the flight in 2023.
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Overview

  • A wrongful-death lawsuit filed by the son of Dr Asoka Jayaweera was removed to California federal court on October 3, alleging the 85-year-old was denied his pre-ordered vegetarian meal and told to "eat around" meat on a 2023 Los Angeles–Colombo itinerary.
  • The complaint says he choked soon after the meal service, with oxygen saturation recorded at 69% at 02:46 UTC and never exceeding 85% despite crew efforts guided by MedAire.
  • It alleges the captain declined to divert, telling a companion the aircraft was over the Arctic, while the family contends flight data show it was over the U.S. Midwest and could have landed sooner.
  • The aircraft later made an emergency landing in Edinburgh, where Jayaweera was taken to a hospital and, according to the complaint, died on August 3, 2023 of aspiration pneumonia.
  • The suit seeks damages above the Montreal Convention cap of roughly $175,000; multiple outlets report Qatar Airways has not responded to requests for comment.