A family has filed a wrongful death lawsuit against Qatar Airways after a vegetarian passenger died following an in-flight medical emergency. While the complaint focuses on a meal issue, the bigger question may be why the aircraft did not divert sooner.
What remains less clear, however, is how the medical emergency unfolded and why the aircraft did not divert promptly. Aspiration events can quickly escalate into life-threatening respiratory distress, and standard operating procedure would normally call for an emergency diversion to the nearest suitable airport once oxygen or CPR is required onboard. It appears this did not happen in time to save the passenger.
Then again, this is Qatar Airways, a carrier that tends to get the little details correct. My hunch here is that the man either did not pre-order a meal or it was somehow not logged. Qatar typically offers one meat-free dish by default on its general economy class menu, so it is a shame that one was not available for him.
A great solo travel tip spotted this week on Live and Let's Fly.
