Qatar Airways faces in the US against an unauthorized action of death after 85 -year -old passengers, a strict vegetarian, reportedly suffocated and died on flight after a vegetarian food was served.
The incident occurred in Los Angeles-Colombo in July 2023, when Dr. Aska Jayaweer, a cardiologist retired from southern California, was denied a vegetarian food he ordered in advance. According to court proceedings filed by his son Surya Jayaweer, the crew recommended him to “eat around” meat in a regular meal provided instead Independent reported.
When trying to do this, Jayaweer began to choke and subsequently lost consciousness, says the complaint. Despite the intervention of the flight crew and distant assistance from Medaire, medical consulting services for airlines, he has never gained consciousness.
The flight immediately did not carry out an emergency landing, while the crew reportedly reported the passengers that the diversion was not impossible because the plane flew “through the Arctic Circle”. However, the family claims that flight data shows that the aircraft was actually above the US Midwest, indicating that the diversion could be feasible.
The plane eventually landed in Edinburgh, Scotland, a few hours later, where Jayaweer was transported to the hospital and declared dead August 3, 2023.
The family claims negligence, the airline quotes an international convention
The lawsuit filed in the California Federal Court is accused by Qatar Airways of negligence and unauthorized death. It quotes failure both in the food protocol and in the medical response protocol. Family attorneys claim that the airline has violated their duty to care, given the passenger book and medical distress during the flight.
According to court submissions, the cause of the death of aspiration pneumonia – a state caused by inhalation of food or fluid into the lungs.
The case also concerns the Montreal Convention, an international treaty that regulates the liability of airline in cases of injury or death on board. Both Qatar and the USA are signatories and the contract limits the legal compensation to about $ 175,000 in such cases.
Mint approached Qatar Airways for a statement. The airline still has to issue an official answer.
Previous incidents and wider context
The court of court comes in the middle of increasing food safety control and allergy management. In recent years, Qatar Airways has faced similar incidents – including two separate complaints from the TV star of British reality Jack Fowler, who claimed that he almost died after his nuts were served, even though he announced the crew of his severe allergy.
In another case, this year, Singapore Airlines from Frankfurt to New York was diverted to Paris after a passenger with allergy to molluscs critically ill air.
Airlines are required within international air standards to meet medical and diet requirements if they are informed in advance. However, implementation often depends on food availability, diet logistics and flight direction-especially on long-way services.
(Tagstotranslate) Qatar Airways (T) Aviation’s action
