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.
Jayaweera’s son, Surya, originally filed the complaint in California state court on July 31, 2025, but it was removed to Central California federal court on October 3.
Qatar Airways accused of killing South Asian-origin doctor
The newly filed wrongful death suit alleges that the “strict vegetarian” doctor headed to Sri Lanka died after he choked a piece of food on the flight. The formal filing states that two and half hours into the flight, Jayaweera was offered the onboard meal service by Qatar as he boarded on August 1, 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.
South Carolina doctor died in Edingburgh in 2023
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.
The doctor’s (in his 80s) son Surya argues that the flight could have easily diverted and attended to his father’s medical emergency. As per the complaint, the South Carolina cardiologist booked his trip to Sri Lanka on June 23, 2023. The scheduled August 1, 2023, flight had a connection in Doha, according to the lawsuit.
Jayaweera’s son is now seeking damaged for negligence and wrongful death.
According to an obituary published on ELanka.com in August 2023, Dr Asoka Jayaweera was 83 years old at the time of his death. “Dr. Asoka Jayaweera “Jay” is survived by his daughter, Ashan (AJ) Jayaweera Chamberlin and his son, Surya Kirthi Jayaweera,” it says.