Vegetarian passenger dies after choking on Qatar Airways meal

An 85-year-old California man died after choking on a Qatar Airways meal when his pre-ordered vegetarian option wasn't available onboard.

Asoka Jayaweera was traveling from Los Angeles to Doha on June 23, 2023, when crew informed him they couldn't provide his requested vegetarian meal. Flight attendants suggested he "eat around the meat" in the regular meal service.

During the meal, Jayaweera choked on food and lost consciousness. His family alleges the aircraft was over Wisconsin at the time, contradicting airline claims it was above the Arctic Circle and couldn't divert. The plane eventually landed in Scotland where Jayaweera had been unconscious for over three hours.

He was hospitalized and died on August 3, 2023, from aspiration pneumonia. His family has filed a lawsuit against Qatar Airways seeking damages. The airline hasn't publicly responded to the allegations.