Qatar Airways Lawsuit After Passenger Dies from Choking — A Reminder That Being Ready Matters

We came across this story today, and it’s honestly heartbreaking.

Dr Asoka Jayaweera, a resident of South California, sadly passed away two years ago after he boarded a Sri Lanka-bound Qatar Airways flight at Los Angeles International Airport. According to a new lawsuit obtained by The Independent, the cardiologist’s family has accused the airline, holding it responsible for the the doctor’s death in 2023.

He consequently ordered a vegetarian meal, which he was denied, with agents suggesting that vegetarian meals had gone out of stock. They then went on to offer him a “regular meal with meat,” and instructed him to “eat around” the meat.

‘Strict vegetarian’ choked on meal meat, remained unconscious for hours.

Shortly after he attempted to do so, he began choking on the food. The lawsuit details that Jayaweera was ultimately provided medical assistance on the Qatar aircraft. MedAire remotely guided the in-flight staff during the emergency. While the flight was estimated to have been over Wisconsin at the time, Asoka Jayaweera was monitored with an oxygen saturation level of 69%. The Qatar flight agents ultimately told him and his companion that the aircraft could not be landed because it was travelling over the Arctic Ocean.

Despite the administration of oxygen onboard the flight, the man’s saturation level never went past 85%. The filing contends oxygen saturation levels below 88% are deemed hazardous.

At 7:30 UTC, the doctor of South Asian descent lost consciousness, prompting the administration of drugs. Finally, at approximately 11 UTC, the Qatar aircraft came down in Edinburgh, United Kingdom, where the cardiologist was taken to the hospital. He ultimately died in Edinburgh on August 3, 2023, due to aspiration pneumonia.

This tragic story is a sad reminder that choking can happen anywhere — on a plane, in a restaurant, or even at home — and emergencies don’t always give you time to think.

Having the right tools on hand really matters. At SENVOK, we created a simple, non-invasive anti-choking device designed for anyone to use. No training, no complicated steps — just place, push, and pull. It works in seconds and can make the difference between a tragedy and a life saved.

Each Choking Rescue kit comes with everything you’d need in an emergency: an adult mask, a child mask, a practice mask, clear instructions, and a sturdy carrying bag so it’s easy to keep on hand — whether that’s in a school, workplace, restaurant, or even your travel bag.

No one expects to be in a choking emergency. But being ready — even just having one SENVOK Airway Clearance Device nearby — could mean one more life saved, one more family spared from grief.

Life’s unpredictable. Let’s be ready for it.