An 85-year-old Sri Lankan cardiologist, Dr. Asoka Jayawira, died mid-flight after reportedly being served a non-vegetarian meal on a Qatar Airways flight from the United States to Sri Lanka.
Dr. Jayawira, a lifelong vegetarian, had requested a vegetarian meal when booking his ticket. However, during the flight, he was mistakenly served a dish containing meat. When he raised the issue with the cabin crew, he was advised to “remove the meat and eat the rest of the food,” reports said.
Shortly after consuming part of the meal, Dr. Jayawira began having severe breathing difficulties. The flight attendants immediately provided first aid, oxygen, and medication, but his condition continued to deteriorate.
According to the airline, the cabin crew contacted MedAire, a medical advisory service for in-flight emergencies, for guidance. However, the aircraft was unable to make an emergency landing in time.
When the plane landed in Edinburgh, Scotland, Dr. Jayawira was found unconscious and was rushed to a hospital, where he was later pronounced dead.
His family has filed a lawsuit against Qatar Airways, accusing the airline of negligence leading to wrongful death. The lawsuit demands that the airline be held accountable under international aviation laws, claiming that the incident could have been prevented had the airline properly handled his meal request and medical emergency.